Friday, November 14, 2008

Watching The Rain

We've had one of the biggest stretches of hard rain that we have had in quite some time. Working at my computer this morning, sipping a cup of coffee, and seeing the rain come down (this computer sits right under a window facing out) I'm reminded of the story Jesus told about the two house builders in Matthew chapter 7. The first man built his house upon the rock. The rains and wind came and the house stood. The second man built his house upon the sand. The rain and winds came and his house collapsed.

We often refer to Jesus as the rock and the Word compares Him to one in places like 1st Corinthians 10:4 but in this passage when Jesus talks about the two men, one who built his house on the rock and one who didn't, let's look closely at what he says.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:24, "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." and in 7:26, "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."

The dividing line in these two lives is not what they hear but what they do. It's the response to the Word of God (Jesus is the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us). James tells us that if we hear the Word and don't do it we can actually become deceived.

What does it mean to be a doer of the Word? A good place to start is in our attitudes when we read it.

What happens when the Word of God challenges some aspect of your life? Maybe you have a really nasty temper. What happens when you read that as believers we should be patient and self-controlled or that we are to cease from anger? What's your response? Are you going to set your heart to be a doer of the Word or make excuses like "I can't help myself" or "it's just the way my family is"?

Become a doer of the Word. Build your life upon the rock!

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