Posted by 90 Days of Prayer – Day Twenty Nine
The Sure Foundation
Matthew 7:24-25
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”
Wisdom naturally dictates that a building should rest on solid rock. Jesus, in this summation statement to his Sermon on the Mount, gives is a metaphor for building a life on solid ground. He’s saying a lifestyle of thinking, speaking, and practicing God’s Word provides stability for life.
Believing Isn’t Enough
Faith is always demonstrated by acting on the Word of God, it’s putting your faith where your mouth is. Jesus lays out the eternal Kingdom principle of hearing and doing. James puts it this way; “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). Building in Matthew 7 is the doing in James 1.
Sound Thinking Builds Sensibly
Jesus said “everyone” who hears His words (everything he taught) and continues to live by them (putting them into practice), is like a wise man who built his house on the rock (solid foundation). The word “wise” in verse 24 means (prudent, sensible, shrewd). Each aspect of this word carries the idea of one who’s thinking is sound. Building our life on God’s word is the only wise and sensible way to live.
Building Wisely Takes Time
In Matthew 7:24-27 the storms strike both the wise and foolish builders. Though none of us are exempt from the storms of life, we can do what’s necessary to prepare us for them. Practicing God’s word is our insurance against those storms. Many people opt for the short cuts because it takes time and effort to lay a strong foundation, but the time and the effort are well worth it.
In Luke’s gospel we have some additional wisdom to help us avoid the disastrous “easy build” mentality. Luke writes the wise “are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built” (Luke 6:48). Wise builders aren’t fooled, It may be all sunshine when they begin, but they know the storms of life do eventually come to us all. Dig deep!
So, why not do the sensible thing, go ahead and surrender to the lordship of Christ. Follow Him by putting His word into practice. Surrender your mind to the wisdom and power God’s Word. Take the time to dig deep into the Scriptures, by thinking, speaking and living according to what is written. Be prepared for the storms of lie, Be confident, Be secure when the rains come, and Be Encouraged! -JSP