Matthew 7:24-27 “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.”
Luke 6:46-49 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”
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 someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
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 someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
Sunday mornings are great. I look forward to them all week! Getting to fellowship with my church family and be encouraged and challenged by the Word of God -- what could be better? The only problem is that I've realized that all too often I leave church feeling that fire in my Spirit, and by the time I get home and get on with the rest of my day, I let that fire die down. Or after my morning devotional, time of worship, or encouraging chat with a friend. As the inevitable wear and tear of the week comes, God's truth seems lost amidst the chaos and that fire is completely put out and forgotten. I know I'm not alone in this!
When I read the passages of scripture above, it reminds me that my anchor should always be on the word of God. It takes work to think on the things of the Lord and let it marinate in your Spirit. To let it change you and your lifestyle. It is much easier to carelessly let it go and continue on living the way you had before. Easier? Yes. Fulfilling? No. God's truth is the only thing that can truly satisfy the soul. When we walk away from the Word after understanding it and recognizing it's potency only to forget about it, the Bible says it is like a man who looks intently at his reflection in a mirror and walks away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
How many times do I have to hear the same message before it actually hits home and changes me? What would life be like if I took the truth I read and heard and let it marinate, then applied it purposely to my life? Dare to imagine a church body that did that. Or even Christians worldwide! I assure you the world we live in would not be the same.
I wonder what a week would be like fully rooted in the truth of God's word? I don't have to wonder because Matthew and Luke tell us that when we are rooted in God's word, the rain will fall, the floods will rise, the wind will howl, and still we will stand tall. I don't know about you, but that sounds like a pretty good week to me. As C.S. Lewis put it, "Don't let your happiness depend on something you may lose." Have a good week, friends! May it be rooted in the truth of Jesus, our firm foundation.
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