Matthew 7:21-27 Jesus taught, “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
Like so many others, I find great truth, meaning, direction and comfort in life from Jesus’ Sermon of the Mount teachings. Matthew 7:13-14, explains clearly that not all roads lead to heaven, and then this passage clarifies that it is not just listening to what the Lord says, but obediently doing what the Lord says; His Way, building our house (our life) on His solid bedrock for our foundation, where true safety, security, and peace of mind resides. And the rewards are heavenly for today and for tomorrow. But there is more to this passage, because Jesus uses the words “When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house.” So many miss that the Lord tells us that in this life there will be storms. In John 16:33, Jesus says, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” In Ephesians 6:13, Paul tells us, “ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." The Lord never tells us that the storms of life by-pass the Children of God, so that every day is sunny and carefree. Jesus tells us to build our faith, our confidence, and our living upon Him; His holy and perfect Word, Will & Way that we may stand through those storms; not because of us, but because of Who we stand on as our unshakable foundation. Don’t be surprised by the actions of a “fallen” world, but know who holds the world in His hand and not be distracted. A house built upon the perfect law of God, that gives true freedom. Walk in the Spirit and live on the Rock (our Blessed Redeemer, Savior & Lord Jesus Christ) and tell others, who don’t know, where your house is location. Because, though the rain comes, it won’t collapse.
James 1:22-25 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.”
In Christ, Brian
4 comments:
Hi Brian,
I use to think that being a Christian meant a happy life with no problems at all. I kept wondering, though, how come my life was nothing but full of trial after trial and all these other Christians seemed to have such great, happy lives. So, as the issues kept coming I kept pressing into God and growing closer and closer to Him. Then, one day during a long fast, God opened my eyes and I saw this Scripture Matthew 7:13-14 in a whole new light. God revealed to me that these Christians that seem to have this smooth life are either lying or they are not a threat to Satan's realm.
I was always taught that if you are having problems as a Christian, then you are doing something wrong, you are not under the covering of God. This use to hurt and disturb me so much because I really thought that I was following God yet things were a mess. Now I see that it was all in God's perfect plan! He was and is leading me down a path full of spiritual warfare and for a reason, that even though my life is always on the front line of war, His beautiful, perfect will is being done and much damage to Satan's kingdom is happening. I find if I slack and I am not wearing a piece of armour I get injured, so wearing the full armour of God is of utmost importance.
Thank you for sharing this word today, it is one that as a child of God we need to focus on.
Blessings brother,
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As always, great post, Brian! So true that we must apply what we read and learn. That's where those tests of faith come into play, yes? You know...the moments when we feel as though life's rug has been pulled out from under our fee. As we sit in the valley, we must cling to Him, rely on what we know of His word and faithfulness, and put it into action so the valley becomes a passageway rather than a destination.
Happy Saturday!
Hi Child of God. Everybody desire the "no problems", "blue bird day" in life ... who wouldn't. The Lord's point is that the storms will come, and it is who we stand upon that determines if we weather those tempests in life. I believe that those mis-conceptions of religion and bad theology are not in line with God's Word & Will and therefore building a house upon the weak and shifting sand. The Lord, though, can use these experiences to turn and guide His "rock foundation" children in loving paths of righteousness, by trimming away the fruitless. No doubt that there is adversarial squalls that make us spiritually battle-wise by standing with the armor of God on rock solid Holy ground. Sanctification (aka growing in spiritual wisdom and knowledge) is a life-long process. We must realize and expect some storms along the way, knowing that there is a rainbow of God's promise, when they pass. Thanks for the thoughtful comment.
S.I Larri, Tests of faith? James 1:2-4 says: "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." I have heard that our fallen flesh nature constantly attempts to transfer our dependency from on our Maker & Sustainer to self. Walking in the Spirit is that "clinging to the Lord, relying on what we know of His word and faithfulness, and put it into action" that you mention. Isn't that building our house upon the ROCK also? The valley that we walk through on the passageway to heaven,then are the same storms in life that pass over & by in our Christian walk. The question is: Are we ready for them? Awesome point sister! Thanks for writing.
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