A Week Of Analyzing Your Core

On our 33 acres of land, we have hundreds of tall, older trees and lots of small, newer trees creating an underbrush around them. It's fascinating to see the different generations of growth around the property and picture what it might be like 50 years from now.

Many of those older trees are now out in the open and exposed to the elements. In a recent wind storm, we lost a good-sized tree on the hill up toward the barn. From a distance it sounded like a pretty spectacular crash, and up close it was clear why it took the tumble.

The inside of the tree's trunk had been eaten away by bugs over a long period of time. There were several places where they had nested, creating weak points throughout the bottom of the tree. All it took was one giant rush of wind across the hill and it didn't stand a chance, literally.

And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell; and great was the fall of it. Matthew 7:26-27

Our hollow tree faced the same fate as the house upon the sand - rain and winds came and great was the fall of it. There wasn't enough substance at its core to keep it upright. The house without a strong foundation toppled easily and was destroyed. Jesus knew that this description would be easy to understand, and He used it to convict them to be doers of the Word and not just hearers.

Make this a week of analyzing your own core. Is it strong in the faith or is it swaying back and forth a little? Will the next good storm send you crashing down or have you built up strength and endurance for the fiercest conflict? Use the next few days to see where you're rooted and grounded and where your core could use a little building up.