# 37. 2017 Dev. Mt.7:24. “The Wise and the Foolish!” Read verses 24-29. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.
Matthew 7:24
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.”
Where as the Beatitudes are the introduction to Jesus’ Sermon and to the precepts of the Kingdom of God, the Wise and Foolish passage we look at today is the conclusion of Jesus’ message.
This section begins with, therefore, pointing back to the passage before it. That passage, looked at in Dev. 35, is about true and false disciples, Mt 24: 21-23, about our actions, done in the name of Jesus and for Jesus.
Wisdom is listening to the Word of God, to the Words of Jesus. How often do we hear the Word or read the Word of God? I suspect that for those who read these devotionals and attend church it is a fair amount. However, listening is only half of it because Jesus qualifies listening to His Words by: “and puts them into practice”. Today, we hear many sermons that come out of much research of Scripture proclaiming lofty theological ideas that appeal to our minds and we feel fed with the “meat” of Scripture. But do those words sink into our hearts? I believe that the “meat” of Scripture is found in our application of the Word; application, that should be laid out in clear and practical terms, in every sermon.
As Jesus points out, and He is referring to all that is contained in His Sermon, that is how we get through the storms of life. Listening to and Doing the Word is what grounds our lives on the Rock, on the foundation that is Christ Jesus. How do we do that?
It begins with prayer: every issue, situation or event, no matter how large or small, should be prayed about multiple times and is beneficial when combined with fasting at critical times. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective (James 5:16).
Second, faith. Followers of Jesus confess their faith on a regular basis in church, in prayer and by reading God’s Word. Does our faith come alive in our lives, in everyday happenings, and in our relationships?
Third, the Holy Spirit. His job, besides glorifying Jesus Christ, is to resist sin in the world and in our lives. Are we allowing Him to lead us?
Pray, practice your faith, hear and act on the guidance of the Spirit will place your life squarely on the Rock that is Jesus! Lord Jesus keep us safe in your loving arms, Amen!
© cgvanwyk, all rights reserved
Heavenhigh 