Building Correctly
Tuesday, March 5
Matthew 7:24-27 (NKJV)
“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: 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. 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: and the rains descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
Devoción
The story that Jesus portrays is about building correctly. He provides a blueprint to prepare us for the storms of life. He knows storms will come to all houses and makes it clear that the foundation the house is built on matters. This determines whether the structure will ‘weather the storms’ or fall.
In today’s passage, Jesus likens the wise man to one who built the foundation on the rock – meaning he heard His sayings and did them. In a practical sense, when we hear the Word of God preached in a message, meditate on it during the week, and make a point to apply it to our lives; we solidify this truth in our spirits. When the time comes for trials and testing, we will find our footing sure, steady, and immovable because we prepared beforehand. We are transformed by doing God’s word and His immovable word causes our house not to fall.
Now … likewise, the foolish man in the story, is the one who heard Jesus’ sayings but was a forgetful hearer (James 1:22-25). He did not do what he heard. Jesus likens this house to be built on sand – shifting with the tides and wind or in practical terms, tossed to and fro by the changing cosmos of this world. The rain, floods, and wind beat on this house, and it fell. And great was its fall.
There are no shortcuts to building correctly. Preparation is not lost time. The house that withstands the storms of life will be the one that was built on the chief cornerstone, which is Christ. He has been around before the beginning of time and can be trusted. Christ, who is the Word of God, is our sure foundation.
Oración de hoy
Querido Padre Celestial,
Don't we all think our house is built on the rock? Do You laugh in the heavens at our false confidence? Lord God, I invite You to discipline me as Your child and reveal to me now, rather than later, where I am not putting Your words into practice. Show me what I need to change. Show me the passages of Scripture I think don't matter or don't count. Show me where my disobedience is threatening my foundation, and grant me the precious gift of repentance so that when the storms come, my house is on the rock of Jesus and does not fall with a great crash. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Aplíquelo hoy mismo
Building spiritual strength is similar to building physical strength. You can walk or run a mile a day for a month and increase your strength because the physical body responds to training over time. You cannot wait for the last day of that month to run a marathon (26 miles) and reap the same benefits. In fact, you might collapse. Be encouraged that faithful prayer and Bible reading, hearing the words of Jesus and doing them day by day, will build your spiritual foundation.
Recursos:
- Be empowered by God as you pray and worship, while watching, Prayer and Worship Night with Pastor Jentezen.
- Build a firm foundation in your family by praying Psalm 51:10 over every member of your family.