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House on the Rock

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”¹

 

In the parable of the wise and foolish builders we can see two sorts of people whose hearts are revealed in their actions. Seeing as the Bible was written as our “guide”, all the lessons found within are for us to learn from. If we choose to listen to Jesus’ teaching and follow it, we are wise and when the storms come raging in our lives, we can rest knowing that, in Jesus, we are secure. However, if we foolishly choose to ignore Jesus’ teachings and disobey, we won’t have the proper foundation to stand against the trials that come our way.  

Abraham Lincoln said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” This is the quote that comes to mind when I think of the life of a Christian. When God bought us with his blood shed on Calvary, and we chose to accept His gift of forgiveness and eternal life, He became our foundation. As we grow in our faith, the lessons we learn help us build upon our strong foundation, Jesus. But what happens when we choose to go against God’s Word and disobey? Our house will crumble because we no longer have Jesus as our foundation. Instead, we put ourselves and our opinions as our foundation, which is always a dangerous way to go. Our feelings and opinions change, which means our foundation will be faulty. But when we allow Christ to be the center of our lives and we choose to submit to His will, we can trust that our “house” will stand no matter what comes our way because Jesus is always faithful and unchanging.

 

Suggested prayer: Dear God, thank you for the secure foundation I can have in you. I pray that you would give me the desire to learn and obey your Word. Keep me from trusting my own feelings and opinions over the truth found in Your Word. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

 

1. Matthew 7:24-27 (NLT).