Building Foundations

Matthew 7:24-27

Verse 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.

    Yesterday we started talking about the importance of radical obedience.  Today we will look at one of the more popular stories in the Bible that helps us understand the need for obedience.

    “The wise man built his house upon the rock.  The wise man built his house upon the rock.”  I'm sure most of us just sang those words as we read them.  Having learned it as children in Sunday School we knew it was better to be the wise man than the foolish man.  What we may not have realized is what Jesus said made the man wise.  In our key verse Jesus says it is the person who listens and obeys that is like the wise man.  He is giving us a visual to remind us what it means in our lives if we are more than just good listeners.

    How many times do we go to church, half listen to the sermon and forget everything we have heard before we climb into our vehicles to go home?  If we are going to be more intentional about obeying we need to be more intentional about truly listening and comparing how God says we should be living with how we are actually living.

    The majority of us likely feel like we obey more than those around us.  We think that since we are obeying better than most, we are doing well in our relationship with God.  The problem is we are comparing ourselves with those we aren't to compare ourselves with.  Practicing radical obedience isn't about obeying more than others, it is about obeying more than we have in the past.  Radical obedience is about a growing level of obedience.  It is about fully surrendering our will to His.

    It is so easy to become complaisant in our living that we miss out on being in the close relationship with God that He desires.  Our lives are a reflection of the intensity of our love for the Father.  To live as His people requires living out of love through obedience.

Making It Personal

    Do you listen and obey or listen and walk away?  When was the last time hearing a sermon changed your lifestyle?  What is God trying to tell you today that you need to listen to?

Making It Personal Kids

    Is it easier to obey if you listen to what you are being told to do?  Are you good at listening so you can obey?  What does Jesus want you to obey?

Closing Prayer

    Father, forgive us for failing to listen to what You are trying to tell us through Your Word and the people You have given to teach us.  Give us a desire to obey You.  In Jesus’ name, amen.