November 22, 2012
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 7:24-29
OBSERVATIONS
1. Jesus stresses putting His words into practice. If He means perfect obedience, I’m in trouble. But my sense is that He is talking about intention, not perfection. He wants us to agree that His way is the best way, and to try our best to live this way. He can deal with or imperfection, if at least we are sincerely trying.
2. Jesus way of life is the wisest, best way to live in this broken, messed up world. If you want to be truly successful, if you want to survive the storms and challenges of life, and finish well, make living like Jesus your aim. Selfless living is a beret way to live than selfish living. Most of us think Jesus is unrealistic, that His teachings do not work, that out situations are exceptions. But Jesus says it straight: My way is the right way, the only way to succeed and survive.
3. People were impressed by Jesus teaching, both how He spoke and what He said. Today people seem unimpressed by Jesus teaching, at least in the church. We’ve hard it so much, we are inoculated to it. Somehow a need to hear it again, for the very first time.
What do you notice in this passage?
APPLICATION
1. First of all, I hear the Lord asking me if I really believe that His teaching is the wisest, the best way to live. No excuses, no exceptions, is it my deep down conviction that what He says is good and right, whether its easy or practical or not?
2. This is still vague. What specific teaching am I struggling with? Forgiving someone for what they have done. Being a peacemaker in a specific situation. Going the extra mile with someone that is pushing my limits already. Cutting off a sinful mindset that is undermining my wall with God… It doesn’t take long to come up with areas where I am dragging my feet, hearing Jesus but not putting what He says into practice.
3. Unless I aim to live the Jesus way, my life well not survive the storms of life. Crash. Is there any place where I see this crash beginning? Is my house unstable anywhere? God is warning us before the crash, will we listen, will we change?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, I believe it, yet in some ways I don’t. I need help to move beyond this status quo. I know it is impossible for me, but with You it is possible.
Hearing the sermon this morning about these verses made me sing this song at lunchtime with my family. Only one of them really appreciated it while the rest wished I would stop.
The Wise Man Built His House
The wise man built his house upon the rock
The wise man built his house upon the rock
The wise man built his house upon the rock
And the rain came tumbling down
Oh, the rain came down
And the floods came up
The rain came down
And the floods came up
The rain came down
And the floods came up
And the wise man’s house stood firm.
The foolish man built his house upon the sand
The foolish man built his house upon the sand
The foolish man built his house upon the sand
And the rain came tumbling down
Oh, the rain came down
And the floods came up
The rain came down
And the floods came up
The rain came down
And the floods came up
And the foolish man’s house went “splat!” [clap hands once]
So, build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ
Build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ
Build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ
And the blessings will come down
Oh, the blessings come down
As your prayers go up
The blessings come down
As your prayers go up
The blessings come down
As your prayer go up
So build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Observations:
This is a repeat of yesterday’s reading in a sense. Fruitful or fake? Wise or foolish?
The wise man builds upon the Rock – the sure foundation of Jesus Christ – and it stands the storms. The foolish man built upon the sands and the house fell with a great crash. Demolished.
Application:
What’s my foundation of my life? What’s my surety? What’s my living based on from day to day? My hope, my surety, my living must be based on Jesus Christ and His righteousness for all others is nothing but sinking sand. All for Jesus. He is my Refuge and upon that Rock I stand. And the I can and do withstand the storms of life for He has promised to be there to lift me up. It is He who is able to help me through the storms of life and nothing can separate the love, the shelter, the hope that My Saviour gives – to all who believe in Him.
That’s real. That’s surety. That’s security. That’s true living.
Prayer:
Guide me this day in Your way. I put my hand in Yours. Lead me. Guide me.
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.
Refrain
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.
Refrain
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.
Refrain
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.