Title: Where Is Your House Built?/ Topic: Foundations

Today's Reading: Matthew 5; Matthew 6; Matthew 7

Scripture: Matthew 7:24-27
24 "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. 25 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. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

Observation: This parable is a further explanation of the one that comes before it. The “Therefore” with which it starts indicates that this sums up the previous one. And the previous one says that not everyone who comes to Jesus having prophesied or done miracles in his Name will be able to get into heaven. Only those who bear fruit, who do the will of the Father, will enter heaven. The bottom line is obedience. God looks on the heart. We can use his authority to do great miracles without having his Word change our character. The wise man changes his life and lives his life based on the words of God.
The foolish man hears the words of God but makes no substantive changes in his life based on them.

Application: This parable explains well the bottom line of being a disciple. A true believer is one who submits his thoughts and actions to God. He himself is not the ultimate authority in his life---God is. Going to church and being able to quote correct doctrine does not automatically make one a Christian, Obedience to the Father and Son through the power of the Spirit is what makes us Christians. It's not a one time decision; it's one we make each day. It's a decision we can walk away from. That doesn't mean each time we disobey we're in danger of losing our salvation. It's the long-term direction of our life that's important. But this parable, each time I read it, makes me stop and examine myself to see if I'm living by God's Word or by my own thoughts and desires. It should do that for each of us. We should never take our salvation for granted.

Prayer: Father, help me to understand that I must fully submit all my attitudes and actions to you. If I'm holding grudges or judging others in an unrighteous way or if I'm arrogant in my opinions and thinking of myself more highly than I ought to, show me my sinful ways so that I may repent of them. I want my heart to be pure and my will to be completely submitted to yours. Help the church to understand what a true disciple is.
This I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.