A Wise Man Built His House upon a Rock

The Lord Jesus Christ knew his followers would need a firm foundation in life. They spent time with him, heard him teach, and followed him for a variety of reasons. So in 2 lengthy teachings that are recorded, he spent time teaching them about living God's Word. And then he laid down a startling and challenging truth. What did they really want for their lives?

From the sermon on the mount:
Matthew 7:24-29:
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

A similar record from the sermon on the plain:
Luke 6:46-49:
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

We build our house upon a rock as we believe and do the written Word of God. Jesus Christ is no longer here in the flesh; we can't walk with him, hearing him teach in person. We must go to the Bible to learn in order to do. Many people will tell you what they think God's Word says or means, but it's important to go to His Word for yourself, so that you know that you know.
This is a noble thing.

Acts 17:11-12:
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

It's important to take that time to study and know; and then to think about what we think about, in order to do what the Bible says.

2Timothy 2:15:
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Does this take some time? Sure, but it's worth carving out that time.


Ephesians 5:15,16:
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Redeeming the time is planning for those minutes so they don't get stolen away. The same word was used of buying out all the produce in the market before it even opened. Here it is "buying" that time to take time for God.

When we take this time to spend time in God's Word, we have His Word fresh in our minds. People need something to believe; we need something to believe. And we, of course, want to believe God's Word!

James 1:22-24:
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

That's quite a picture! Pretty sad really.
but God's Word continues.

James 1:25:
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Deuteronomy 7:9:
Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

God will keep His Word, and He will never leave us nor forsake us.
Hebrews 13:5b-6:
for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

How firm is our foundation? As firm as we know God's Word and do it! We carve out that time for God and then see to it that we do what His Word says.
As it says in Nehemiah 8, the joy of the Lord is our strength. Our lives are built upon a rock as we hear and do God's Word. And no matter what life throws our way, we need never fear.

No Power Outages with God!

In my hometown, everyone is gearing up for a big winter storm with lots of ice and snow headed our way. If you have a generator, you've been warned to get it ready just in case the power goes out. Aren't we glad that God never has a power outage?! And to think that He has filled us with His power! Even if the power that runs the lights, TV and fridge goes out, God's power never goes out!

After Jesus Christ was resurrected and before he ascended into heaven, he told his disciples that he would send the "promise of the Father" and that they would be "endued [or clothed] with power from on high."

Right before Jesus Christ ascended, he told his followers:

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Every born again believer receives this power in the new birth. What a wonderful heavenly Father to bestow His love in such a great way! It truly is power from on high and enables us to do signs, miracles and wonders.

John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

Praise God for His great grace to give us such power in the new birth! We can learn and grow in our walks with Him, manifesting this power as we believe His Word. And just think, no power outages when it comes to God's power!

New Year? Must Be Time to Lose Weight!

That's what they say, isn't it? It's another new year, time to lose weight. Personally, no matter my size or the time of year, I like "weight loss" according to God's Word.

Hebrews 12:1b Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

"Lay aside every weight;" now that is some weight loss I can use any time of year! Every weight refers to every burden or hindrance. What's weighing you down in life? God says you can simply lay it aside, along with any sin or broken fellowship. These are things that can "easily beset us," it says.

God truly wants us to lay aside all those weights, and when we are humble, we do so.

I Peter 5:6,7 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Our cares are anything that causes anxiety or stresses us out, distracting us from God. He cares so much for us! He promises He will never leave us nor forsake us and that He will supply all our need. So why not cast all our care on Him?

Perhaps we're burdened or hindered by old habits we haven't yet overcome. God has provided for that as well. He's given us Christ in us, and we truly can be transformed by renewing our minds, putting off the old man and putting on the new.

Ephesians 4:22-24 That ye put off concerning the former conversation [behavior] the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

God will even strengthen us with might by His spirit in the inner man, according to Ephesians 3:16. So what have we got to lose? Just that lousy weight that so easily besets us!

I love the rest of Hebrews 12:1: "and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."

What a great description of life--the race that is set before us. I don't want to just sit down on the sidelines! Nobody really wants to be so easily beset! And just as I wouldn't carry a big heavy backpack to run a long race, I don't want to carry along a pack of burdens in this race of life that God has set before me.

God is so gracious! This sounds like a plan to me! I think I'll go with His weight loss plan and run with patience the race that is set before me.