What do I want to be known as? A great parent? A great friend? A home schooling legend? A great Christian? Or a great depender on Jesus? Do I know that I bring nothing to the table, relying totally on God? Or do I think that he should be delighted to have me on “his team”?
The only foundation that will stand is Jesus Christ. I can celebrate my simple obedience to him. I can delight in listening to him, loving him, needing him and obeying him. This is safety; any other foundation ends in disaster.
Notes on the passages in the resource:
V24 – Hearing Jesus’ teaching is not enough. Shock! Hearing his teaching and obeying him is like wisely building on solid foundations.
V25 – The solid foundation stands strong in all storms. When a person who has put Jesus’ words into practice stands before Jesus on the day of judgement, they will stand secure. This doesn’t mean they have lived a life of 100% perfect obedience, but that they have obeyed Jesus’ call to repent and come to him for forgiveness when they fail. Whoever has built their life on Christ will be eternally safe with Christ.
V26 – Hearing Jesus’ commands and ignoring them is like foolishly building on sand. Before the storm both houses look the same. The lives they represent may well appear the same. It is possible to build a very impressive mansion on sand, or to build a simple shack on rock. Which would you rather shelter in?
V27 – If there is no foundation then there will be a great crash. It may happen in this life, when a storm of intense hardship comes. It will certainly happen at the final judgement. There will be a day when any foundation other than Christ will collapse, leaving us exposed and in great danger.
V28-29 – Jesus’ teaching is amazing. If we listen carefully, we will stand awestruck. His words have power. Let’s listen and obey.
Question to ponder: If you were honest with yourself, in the quietness of your heart, how would you finish this sentence, “If the worst happened to me, in those dreadful hours, I would be relying on….”
