Thursday, July 20, 2017

Today's Passage - Matthew 7:24-29

Matthew 7:24-29
 
"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.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."  When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
 
We are always seeking to feel secured in the world, aren't we?  We want to have job security and financial security; we want to be secured after retirement, and we keep on thinking what would happen if our future is not secured.  Chinese people like to think and plan for the worst scenario; we like to save money, invest or buy insurance, but few people actually think about whether their spiritual future is secured.  When people read this scripture passage, they only read about the wise man versus foolish man, rock versus sand, but they overlook the basic truth here: No matter whether a person is wise or foolish, they'll encounter rain, stream and wind in their lives.  No matter how wise or foolish, or how godly or ignorant one is, they'll always encounter many storms in their lives that are allowed to happen by God. 
 
We like to ask "why" when we encounter them, but God seldom answer the question of why.  Instead, God is using this question to ask us: During the storms in your life, how is the foundation of your spiritual life?  As soon as people hear this question, they will pick up a Bible and say, "the foundation of spiritual life is the Bible!"  But the Lord said that only those who heard His word and put them into practice are the ones who built their house on a foundation of rock.  A preacher once said: "it's not enough to own a Bible - you must read it.  It's not enough to read a Bible - you must let is speak to you.  It's not enough to let the Bible speak to you - you must trust God's word.  It's not enough to trust God's word - you must live it out."  At which stage if your devotional life - Are you a the first phase, where you just own a Bible, or are you already living out of God's word?  May God help us, not just own a Bible, but actually read it.  May the Holy Spirit shine upon us and let us understand God's will, and may God give us courage to live out His word in our daily life.
 
Pray with Pastor Tong
 
Lord, we ask you to help us to see that we must have a solid spiritual foundation in our life.  Give us a heart that is eager for your word, willing to follow your word, and to live it out.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!
 
     
  

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