God thought - Bible #12

Read
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. -Matthew 7:24

Reflect
Do you have a little brother, sister, niece, or nephew who likes to play with wooden or Lego blocks? If so, you have probably watched them build a tower or another tall structure. The taller the tower, the more it begins to wobble. If the child is lucky, the tower hangs around long enough to get destroyed by a well-placed flying roundhouse kick. If the child is not lucky, the tower gets so wobbly that it crashes to the floor. If you watch young children build these structures, you'll quickly notice one thing: in most cases, these tall towers have a very shaky foundation. As the kids build higher, the tower simply does not have a base sturdy enough to support its weight.

Read Matthew 7:24-27. Matthew records Jesus teaching about the necessity of having a great foundation. The metaphor of solid rock vs. shifting sand speaks to the idea of faith and obedience. Verse 24 tells us that hearing the Word of the Lord and obeying what it says is a characteristic of a wise man. Those who do not take the Word seriously are called foolish.

This passage is about obedience; it's about doing, not just listening, to God's Word. But it's not just about obedience. It's also about being prepared. We must be prepared for the trials and storms that come into our lives. We as Christians are not promised a smooth life without trouble. We live in a sinful world with consequences. Knowing God's Word and living through obedience to His commands prepares us for trials.

So...how much time do you spend in the Word? How well are you doing at practicing obedience to God's Word?

Respond
1. Compare your faith to Jesus' metaphor. Is your faith "rock solid" or "soft as sand?"

2. How can trials make your faith stronger?

3. Describe how you grew closer to Christ through a tough time in your life.

4. Pray that God would show you where your foundation needs repair. Ask the Spirit to show you any weak areas you need to shore up. Thank God for His Word.