Build Your House on the Rock

23 July 2011

46] “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? [47] Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: [48] he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. [49] But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” 

(Luke 6:46-49 ESV)

There are two steps presented here in this passage:

1)    Read the Scriptures (Hear)

2)    Do what they say (Obey)

Let us not only read and hear God’s Word, but let us put them into practice.  Practice takes time and energy.  It takes daily discipline and submission to God.  Moment by moment surrender to His Spirit, like it says in Galatians 5:16- “walk by the Spirit.”    

When we are full of the knowledge of God’s Word and practicing obedience to His commands, by the power of His Spirit, we are not shaken, no matter what life throws our way!  We are like a tree whose roots are deeply planted by the stream (Jeremiah 17:7-8); like a man who builds his house on a solid foundation. 

BUT the man who merely hears the truth and does not put it into practice is quickly destroyed!  As soon as the storms of life come he falls, his leaves wither and his house is ruined. 

Let us be hearers and doers of the truth, as it says in James 1:22-

 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

Pray today for God’s help to be disciplined to read His Word and obey His commands, even when you don’t feel like it!  Practice takes prayer and perseverance.  Pray through the Scriptures!  Pray before you read, while you read and after you read!