Matthew 7
July Memory Verse: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
Read: Matthew 7
As we read our passage today, we end Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Jesus has been instructing His followers on how to live a godly life and be a light to the nations. He has touched on so many important topics and issues that people face in their journey with God. What I want to focus on today though is how Jesus ends the Sermon on the Mount, because I think everything hinges off of it.
Jesus says, in verse 24, “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.” It is very important to read God’s Word, but if we don’t take what we have heard and apply it then we have really wasted our time. Jesus didn’t say, “Anyone who listens to my teaching is wise”, instead He said those who listen and follow will be wise.
There is an old saying that goes, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.” The same can be said for a teacher and student relationship. I could stand up and preach the most amazing sermon ever to high schoolers, but if they are not interested in what I am talking about then they are not going to learn. We see this same thing all throughout the Bible. Jesus would get done saying something super important, and what did some people do? They turned away. Why? Because they were not wanting to learn.
The same could be said for all of us. If we do not approach our Bible study with an eager heart to hear from the Lord, chances are we are not going to hear anything. If we go to church distracted and worried about what all is coming up next week, chances are we aren’t going to learn.
If we really want to learn and grow in our relationship with God, then our hearts need to be yearning for God at times when we get to interact with God (whether that be through reading Scripture, praying, meeting for discipleship, going to church, etc.).
Let me ask: What kind of foundation do you want to build your life on? A solid one or a sandy one?
There is only one way to have a solid foundation, and that is by listening and following what God has to say in His Word.
By: Brice Stockton
Read: Matthew 7
As we read our passage today, we end Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Jesus has been instructing His followers on how to live a godly life and be a light to the nations. He has touched on so many important topics and issues that people face in their journey with God. What I want to focus on today though is how Jesus ends the Sermon on the Mount, because I think everything hinges off of it.
Jesus says, in verse 24, “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.” It is very important to read God’s Word, but if we don’t take what we have heard and apply it then we have really wasted our time. Jesus didn’t say, “Anyone who listens to my teaching is wise”, instead He said those who listen and follow will be wise.
There is an old saying that goes, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.” The same can be said for a teacher and student relationship. I could stand up and preach the most amazing sermon ever to high schoolers, but if they are not interested in what I am talking about then they are not going to learn. We see this same thing all throughout the Bible. Jesus would get done saying something super important, and what did some people do? They turned away. Why? Because they were not wanting to learn.
The same could be said for all of us. If we do not approach our Bible study with an eager heart to hear from the Lord, chances are we are not going to hear anything. If we go to church distracted and worried about what all is coming up next week, chances are we aren’t going to learn.
If we really want to learn and grow in our relationship with God, then our hearts need to be yearning for God at times when we get to interact with God (whether that be through reading Scripture, praying, meeting for discipleship, going to church, etc.).
Let me ask: What kind of foundation do you want to build your life on? A solid one or a sandy one?
There is only one way to have a solid foundation, and that is by listening and following what God has to say in His Word.
By: Brice Stockton
2 Comments
Great reminder Brice! If we don't have a foundation built on God's word, then we have no foundation!
Great analysis Brice. Spot on. Thanks for the insight into a chapter that is super full of foundational life lessons for believers.