Do It!
Opening Prayer
Lord, help me to go beyond hearing Your Word. Help me to understand that living faith is alive in action.
Read Matthew 7:24-29
[24] “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. [25] The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. [26] But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. [27] The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” [28] When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, [29] because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How does Jesus define the life built on the rock?It’s easy enough to be a Christian “in our heads”–having blessed thoughts and pondering good intentions. But the old question finds us out: “If you were charged with being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” As Jesus draws to the end of his Sermon on the Mount, he applies a single test to his listeners’ response: will they do it? Will they “walk the talk”? This is a very Jewish approach, treating soul and body, thought and action, as a whole. Our faith will be judged by what we actually do (Matt. 25:35,36) and not by fine words alone. Jesus’ example is of two houses that are both subjected to storm and flood. The houses may look identical, and the deluge is the same for both, but it is the house built on rock that remains standing. For Jesus, it is the person who hears and does his word who will have a firm place to stand in the testing times to come.
Apply
Is your faith evidenced by action? Prayerfully reflect on this question and journal your thoughts.
Closing prayer
Lord, I want to walk in obedience to what I hear in Your Word. Help me build so that I am able to stand in the storm.
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