Luke – Doors Wide Open!
You may or may not have heard the expression “Give me a solid” from the 60’s, but what it refers to something real or tangible–solid (as opposed to lip service). It could even be such a thing as a solid handshake which held great meaning. Also around the time of the origin of this phrase, currency was still on the gold standard (as in solid gold and guaranteed 1:1), again, this request or favor is something tangible and that you could count on.However, some people see a subtle difference between favor and “solid”, with favor suggesting reciprocity (do me a favor, I’ll do one for you) and solid conveying a commitment without expectation of payback. “Do me a solid” means giving something in it’s purest form. Unfortunately, drug users copped the phrase to mean give me what has not been diluted.
ANOTHER FUN FACT…
Give me a solid or ‘favor,’ nouning by truncation, has been around in U.S. slang for over 40 years (at least). But it was made popular again in the last 20 years, almost surely through the influence of the TV show Seinfeld.
From “The Jacket”, first broadcast 2/6/91:(Enter Kramer) KRAMER: Hey. Hey, would you do me a solid?
JERRY: Well, what kind of solid?
KRAMER: I need you to sit in the car for two minutes while it’s double-parked. I gotta pick up some birds.
JERRY: Birds? […]
JERRY: I can’t. I’m on my way out. There’s no way I can do it.
KRAMER: George, do me a solid? Two minutes.
GEORGE: Well, I’m going with him. I’d like to, I’ve never done a solid before.
KRAMER: Alright.. yeah.. alright, have a good one. (Kramer leaves)
Why have I taken you down this “solid” rabbit hole? To tell you we have the Only One who will give us a sincere, forever, trustworthy, authentic, “solid” for life everlasting. This “Solid” is Jesus Christ, Our Solid Rock. Build your faith on the Rock and you will have an undiluted, pure, faith that will stand the test of time. When the world rocks our souls and tests our ability to stand, The Rock, in which we cling, will keep us standing firm with our heads above the waters of trouble.
Here is just one of my favorite promises of God…(Isaiah 43:2)
“When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.”
Now let us read Jesus’ words as He gives us a solid understanding of what real life with Him is like.
Luke 6, New Living Translation
The Tree and Its Fruit
43 “A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 44 A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thorn bushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. 45 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.
Building on a Solid Foundation46 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? 47 I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. 48 It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. 49 But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”
HOLY PAUSE…
What is flowing from my heart, cascading into my behavior?What is “your house” of faith built upon?
How firm is your foundation? Have you checked for cracks?
Give me a solid, dear Jesus. I know you will because of who you are.
Dear Heavenly Father, Lord and Savior,
You amaze me and make me smile each morning. You lift my spirit to align with Your Holy Spirit. You challenge my faith and convict me about my behavior and the condition of my heart the tumbles into my life. You remind me of your trustworthy love and care, mercy and grace. I love you, Lord with all that is in me. Thank you for allowing us to cling to the rock of our salvation. Thank you for teaching us, forgiving us and leading us to higher grounds of thoughts and actions.
In Jesus Name, Amen
And I’m singing…(old hymn…Solid Rock)
My hope is built on nothing lessThan Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus’ Name
On Christ the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
When darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil
On Christ the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood
When all around my soul gives way
He then is all my Hope and Stay
On Christ the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
When He shall come with trumpet sound
Oh may I then in Him be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone
Faultless to stand before the throne…
