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 ReadingIsaiah 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 1 Samuel 27:1 And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul.The thought of David's heart at this time was a false thought, because he certainly had no ground for thinking that God's anointing him by Samuel was intended to be left as an empty unmeaning act. On no one occasion had the Lord deserted his servant; he had been placed in perilous positions very often, but not one instance had occurred in which divine interposition had not delivered him. The trials to which he had been exposed had been varied; they had not assumed one form only, but many--yet in every case he who sent the trial had also graciously ordained a way of escape. David could not put his finger upon any entry in his diary, and say of it, "Here is evidence that the Lord will forsake me," for the entire tenor of his past life proved the very reverse. He should have argued from what God had done for him, that God would be his defender still. But is it not just in the same way that we doubt God's help? Is it not mistrust without a cause? Have we ever had the shadow of a reason to doubt our Father's goodness? Have not his lovingkindnesses been marvellous? Has he once failed to justify our trust? Ah, no! our God has not left us at any time. We have had dark nights, but the star of love has shone forth amid the blackness; we have been in stern conflicts, but over our head he has held aloft the shield of our defence. We have gone through many trials, but never to our detriment, always to our advantage; and the conclusion from our past experience is, that he who has been with us in six troubles, will not forsake us in the seventh. What we have known of our faithful God, proves that he will keep us to the end. Let us not, then, reason contrary to evidence. How can we ever be so ungenerous as to doubt our God? Lord, throw down the Jezebel of our unbelief, and let the dogs devour it. Daily Light on the Daily Path Psalm 89:16 In Your name they rejoice all the day, And by Your righteousness they are exalted.Isaiah 45:24,25 "They will say of Me, 'Only in the LORD are righteousness and strength.' Men will come to Him, And all who were angry at Him will be put to shame. • "In the LORD all the offspring of Israel Will be justified and will glory." Psalm 32:11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart. Romans 3:21,22,26 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, • even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; • for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 1 Peter 1:8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 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. |
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