Scripture: Matthew 7:21,24-27
21 "Not every one who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter the
kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in
heaven. 24 "Every one then who hears these words of mine and does
them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; 25
and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and
beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been
founded on the rock. 26 And every one who hears these words of
mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his
house upon the sand; 27 and the rain fell, and the floods came,
and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and
great was the fall of it."
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 26:1-6
1 In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: "We
have a strong city; he sets up salvation as walls and
bulwarks. 2 Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps
faith may enter in. 3 You keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is
stayed on you, because he trusts in you. 4 Trust in the LORD for ever, for the LORD
GOD is an everlasting rock. 5 For he has
brought low the inhabitants of the height, the lofty city. He lays
it low, lays it low to the ground, casts it to the dust. 6 The
foot tramples it, the feet of the poor, the steps of the needy."
Meditation: What's the best security against disaster and
destruction? In the ancient world a strong city, an impregnable
fortress, and a secure house were built on solid rock because they
could withstand the forces of nature and foe alike. Isaiah speaks
of God as an "everlasting rock" (Isaiah 26:4). He is the rock of
refuge and deliverance (Psalm 18:2) and the rock in whom there is
no wrong (Psalm 92:15). Scripture warns that destruction will
surely come to those who place their security in something other
than God and his kingdom. Jesus' parables invite us to stake our
lives on the coming of his kingdom or face the consequences of
being unprepared when the day of testing and destruction will
surely come.
When Jesus told the story of the builders he likely had the
following proverb in mind: "When the storm has swept by, the
wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm for ever" (Proverbs
10:25). What's the significance of the story for us? The kind of
foundation we build our lives upon will determine whether we can
survive the storms that are sure to come. Builders usually lay
their foundations when the weather and soil conditions are at
their best. It takes foresight to know how a foundation will stand
up against adverse conditions. Building a house on a flood plain,
such as a dry river-bed, is a sure bet for disaster! Jesus
prefaced his story with a warning: We may fool humans with our
speech, but God cannot be deceived. He sees the heart as it truly
is - with its motives, intentions, desires, and choices (Psalm
139:2).
There is only one way in which a person's sincerity can be
proved, and that is by one's practice. Fine words can never
replace good deeds. Our character is revealed in the choices we
make, especially when we are tested. Do you cheat on an exam or on
your income taxes, especially when it will cost you? Do you
lie, or cover-up, when disclosing the truth will cause you
injury or embarrassment? A true person is honest and reliable
before God, one's neighbor and oneself. His or her word can
be counted on. If you heed God's word and live according to it
then you need not fear when storms assail you. God will be your
rock and your refuge. Is your life built upon the sure "rock" of
Jesus Christ and do you listen to his word as if your life
depended on it?
"Lord Jesus, you are my Rock and my Refuge. Help me to conform my
life according to your word that I may stand firm in times of
trouble and find hope in your promises."
Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27
1 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is
good; his steadfast love endures for ever!
8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to put confidence in princes.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through
them and give thanks to the LORD.
20 This is the gate of the LORD; the
righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank you that you have answered me and have become my
salvation.
25 Save us, we beseech you, O LORD! O LORD, we beseech you, give us success!
26 Blessed be he who enters in the name of the LORD!
We bless you from the house of the LORD.
27 The LORD is God, and he has given us
light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns
of the altar!
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Turn your
vision to the Savior, by Verecundus (died
552 AD)
"When Hezekiah, the king of Judah and son of Ahaz, was gravely
ill and had learned of his coming death by the prophecy of Isaiah,
he turned his face to the wall and wept bitterly (2 Kings 20:1-3).
Immediately the Lord in his mercy not only averted the destruction
of imminent death but also added fifteen years to the man's life.
Then, at last, Hezekiah sang this song (Isaiah 38:10-20).
Hezekiah, a holy man who reigned at that time over all of Israel,
displayed the Lord's form: clearly he had every movement of body,
soul and mind in subjection to himself, and he accepted the
consequences of his infirmity and weakness. He knew without doubt
through the prophetic message that the end of his life was
approaching. For the longer we seem to live, the more indubitably
is our future death foreknown to us. And if we turn our face to
the wall when struck by the fear of death, that is, if we direct
the vision of our hearts to the Savior, who is here represented by
the wall because he is elsewhere called 'a wall,' we will be
saved, inasmuch as he saves the faithful who dwell within him from
a great many attacks. 'In the city of our strength,' says Isaiah,
'is the Savior established as a wall and a fortress' (Isaiah
26:1). Behold, the Savior is said to be a wall." (excerpt
from COMMENTARY ON THE CANTICLE OF EZEKIEL 5.1 2)
[Verecundus was an African Christian writer and bishop in the
6th century AD.]
Meditations may be freely reprinted for
non-commercial use - please cite:
copyright (c) 2016 Servants of the Word, source:
www.dailyscripture.net, author Don Schwager
Scripture quotations from Common Bible:
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright
1973, and Ignatius Edition of the Revised Standard
Version of the Bible, copyright 2006, by the
Division of Christian Education of the National
Council of the Churches of Christ in the United
States of America. Used by permission. All rights
reserved. Citation references for quotes from
the writings of the early church fathers can be
found here.
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