Evening, October 17
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He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads the nursing ewes.  — Isaiah 40:11
Bible League: Living His Word
"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock."
— Matthew 7:24 ESV

On what foundation are you building your life?

In our verse for today Jesus makes use of a number of metaphors. "House" refers to the life of a person; "rock" refers to the teaching of Jesus; and "wise man" refers to any person who builds his or her life on Jesus' teaching. Jesus' point, then, is that the only solid foundation upon which to build a life is His teaching.

There are, of course, other foundations upon which you can build your life. The trouble with them, from Jesus' point of view, is that they're not "rock." Any other foundation is, as He goes on to say in verse 26, nothing more than "sand." You can build your life on a teaching other than Jesus' teaching, but it won't be a solid foundation. It won't stand the test of time. Rock, by its very nature, is a better foundation than sand.

It's important to note that "rock" refers to what should be the foundation of a person's life. It does not refer, therefore, to any part that is added on after the house is built. Jesus' teaching should not be thought of as something less than foundational. We can't just decorate with this rock. If Jesus' teaching is the true foundation of a life, then every aspect of this life is anchored to it, and every other teaching will be understood in terms of what Jesus taught.

People are going to come your way with teachings that are different from Jesus' teaching. They'll try to get you to start building your life on their foundation rather than Jesus' foundation. Towards that end, they'll interpret Jesus' teaching in terms of their own teaching, distorting them. They may say, for example, that Jesus was just a good man, rather than the Savior of the world. They may say that Jesus was a prophet, but not the Son of God, and they may misinterpret and distort His teachings.

Whatever they say, don't forget that Jesus' teaching is the rock — and what His detractors say is mere sand.
Bible in a Year
Old Testament Reading
Isaiah 62, 63, 64


Isaiah 62 -- Zion's New Name

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


Isaiah 63 -- God's Vengeance and Redemption

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


Isaiah 64 -- Prayer for God's Mercy

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


New Testament Reading
1 Thessalonians 5


1 Thessalonians 5 -- The day of the Lord; Respect, Love, Peace, Encouragement, Patience, Kindness and Joy

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library.
Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion
For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.
Insight
When we are not motivated by love, we become critical of others. We stop looking for good in them and see only their faults. Soon the unity of believers is broken.
Challenge
Have you talked behind someone's back? Have you focused on others' shortcomings instead of their strengths? Remind yourself of Jesus' command to love others as you love yourself. When you begin to feel critical of someone, make a list of that person's positive qualities. If there are problems that need to be addressed, it is better to confront in love than to gossip.
Morning and Evening by Spurgeon
Isaiah 40:11  He shall gather the lambs with his arm.

Our good Shepherd has in his flock a variety of experiences, some are strong in the Lord, and others are weak in faith, but he is impartial in his care for all his sheep, and the weakest lamb is as dear to him as the most advanced of the flock. Lambs are wont to lag behind, prone to wander, and apt to grow weary, but from all the danger of these infirmities the Shepherd protects them with his arm of power. He finds new-born souls, like young lambs, ready to perish--he nourishes them till life becomes vigorous; he finds weak minds ready to faint and die--he consoles them and renews their strength. All the little ones he gathers, for it is not the will of our heavenly Father that one of them should perish. What a quick eye he must have to see them all! What a tender heart to care for them all! What a far- reaching and potent arm, to gather them all! In his lifetime on earth he was a great gatherer of the weaker sort, and now that he dwells in heaven, his loving heart yearns towards the meek and contrite, the timid and feeble, the fearful and fainting here below. How gently did he gather me to himself, to his truth, to his blood, to his love, to his church! With what effectual grace did he compel me to come to himself! Since my first conversion, how frequently has he restored me from my wanderings, and once again folded me within the circle of his everlasting arm! The best of all is, that he does it all himself personally, not delegating the task of love, but condescending himself to rescue and preserve his most unworthy servant. How shall I love him enough or serve him worthily? I would fain make his name great unto the ends of the earth, but what can my feebleness do for him? Great Shepherd, add to thy mercies this one other, a heart to love thee more truly as I ought.

Daily Light on the Daily Path
Matthew 6:13  And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.'

Psalm 93:1,2  The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The LORD has clothed and girded Himself with strength; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved. • Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting.

Nahum 1:3  The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, And the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. In whirlwind and storm is His way, And clouds are the dust beneath His feet.

Romans 8:31  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

Daniel 3:17  "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.

John 10:29  "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.

1 John 4:4  You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

Psalm 115:1  Not to us, O LORD, not to us, But to Your name give glory Because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth.

1 Chronicles 29:11,13,14  "Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. • "Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name. • "But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org.

Morning October 17
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