Devotional – Are we listening and then are we obeying?
Matthew 7:24
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
When Jesus spoke these words, the impact of them has been such a blessing in my life, and I am sure in the lives of many others as well.
In His illustration, two men begin to build their houses. Both men used the same materials. Both built in the same geographical location. Outwardly, the houses may have looked very similar.
Yet when the storm came, one house stood firm while the other collapsed around its builder. The difference was not in the appearance of the houses but in the foundation beneath them. One was built on rock; the other on sand.
Jesus reminds us that the true test of a life does not occur during calm and comfortable days. The real test comes when the storms arrive. Trials, pressure, suffering, and uncertainty reveal what our lives are truly built upon.
Christ teaches us to be careful where we build our house. We must build on something that is tried, proven, and unshakable. Shortcuts in our spiritual lives may seem easy at the time, but they will eventually lead to regret when the storms come.
Who is the one who builds his house upon the Rock?
It is the person who hears the words of the Lord and does them.
Who is the one who builds his house upon the sand?
It is the person who hears His words but does not act upon them.
One of the great dangers for those who love the Word of God is to think that hearing is equivalent to doing. We may listen to a sermon, read our Bibles, and even agree with the truth, yet still fail to practice what we have heard.
When that happens, Jesus says we resemble the foolish man who built on sand.
The wise man, however, not only hears the words of Christ but also puts them into practice. His obedience becomes the solid foundation of his life. Because of that foundation, his house will stand—no matter how fierce the storms may become.
And so the question for each of us is simple but searching:
Are we merely hearing the Word, or are we building our lives upon it?