ROCK OR SAND PEOPLE
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Opening Prayer
Mighty God, there is no one like you, no one who can meet my greatest need and yet attend to my smallest problem. Thank you for your loving concern and care for everything about me.
Read MATTHEW 7:21—29
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Matthew
Matthew 7
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
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.
Reflect
What enables you to stand firm in your faith when the storms of life assault you?
Jesus is the world’s greatest storyteller. What a way to finish his Sermon on the Mount! With characteristically few words, he creates a picture of two builders with their buildings. When completed, they both look like desirable residences. Jesus’ listeners, however, knew how an arid landscape could be transformed by a torrential downpour and flooding, when only buildings with the strongest foundations would survive. Sadly, we see fierce storms sweeping away buildings today. Jesus’ challenge, put bluntly, is: ‘Are you a rock person, because you have put my words into practice (literally do my words, not just hear them)? Or are you a sand person, who has some knowledge but whose life is not built on obedience and action?’
What storms can test our Christian resilience? One common battering of faith comes from suffering. People have said to me, ‘I did go to church, but when my young sister / my baby / my wife died of cancer, I gave up on God.’ Christian commitment does not ensure us against suffering or other troubles. Indeed, going through the narrow gate may add to the costs, but becoming Christ-followers partners us with the Lord of Lords who went through direst suffering for us on the cross and promises to be with us always. Storms can hit us out of the blue. Jesus warns us not to follow his words too late. You cannot dig down in raging storms. Rather, we should be pile-driving God’s Word into our hearts and practicing biblical actions daily in our devotional and church life.
When the crowds heard Jesus, they were amazed at his authority (vv. 28, 29). Our studies should amaze us, too, but what really matters is putting his words into practical action in our lives and building on the Rock.
Apply
Reflect on the challenges of these last readings about our character, attitudes, and devotion. Where does God ask you to dig down in action?
Closing prayer
Loving Lord, help me to keep laying strong foundations by putting your words into practice, so that I can face even the fiercest trials and storms.
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