Thursday 5 July, 2012

46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 As for those who come to me and hear my words and put them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They 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. 49 But those who hear my words and do not put them into practice are like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

The wise and foolish builders are the last part (the conclusion) of Jesus’ longest sermon, the Sermon on the Mount.

Everyone in Palestine knew that floods came quickly during winter time. If a house was built without foundation, it would be washed away quickly. That’s why Jesus used it as the conclusion of His Sermon.

The foundation of a Christian is not just “bible knowledge” or “religious rituals”, but also a doer of the Words of Jesus.

How many times does Jesus say: do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink … But I still worry for many things.

Jesus said: love your enemies, do good to them …  But I still don’t like them and won’t do anything good for them.

No wonder Jesus said: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

Lord help me to truly build a strong foundation and put your words into practice in my life.

Written by Allen Leu