Thought for the Day – November 9, 2009

Text: Matthew 7:24-27

24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”  NKJV

 

There will always be a huge gap between listening and doing in the lives of many.  I learned many years ago the challenge of actually changing lives just by preaching the Word.  When I placed people in small groups, and better yet, triads, and focused on follow through, I continually saw lives changed.

 

Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount with a story depicting choice.  We can hear the Word and not allow it to penetrate.  Or, we can hear the Word and build our lives around it.  The second part of the story is the reality of life.  The rain will come, sometimes softly, sometimes in torrents.  And when the torrents of rain come with strong winds and lightning, the house build on the sand will not stand.  Sand is shifting.  Sand cannot hold firm in the face of wind and rain.  Jesus is the Rock, the Cornerstone.  He can sustain in the winds of cancer and rain of financial setbacks.  He is stronger than the floods of grief and devastation of heartbreak.

Thought for the Day – Jesus is the Rock.  Let us build our lives upon Him.