SPECIAL WEEKEND THOUGHT: 👉 Putting Jesus’ Words Into Practice 📖
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BibleStudyCam
 March 29 2025
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    “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” (Luke 6:46-49 NIV)

    “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” (James 1:22-25 NIV)

    Several years ago, I challenged myself to read a book every week of the year (52 books total). Over this year, I blasted my way through 52 books reading during every sliver of time that I could find. However, very little of what I read actually went into practice.

    During His ministry, Luke's gospel records a powerful ending to a sermon Jesus shares. In this conclusion, Jesus contrasts the lives of two homebuilders. The only difference between these two people is that one puts Jesus' words into practice. The one who listens to Jesus and applies Jesus' words in his life outlasts the storms of life, while the one who listened without obeying is left with a collapsed house after the storm came.

    Most of the times when I pictured this illustration, Matthew's version of the parable came to mind. I'd imagine a well built home high up on a rock cliff, overlooking a home built on a sandy seashore. One home was protected from the waves, the other was destined to be swept away.

    But Luke's gospel gives a different picture. Luke describes two, possibly identical looking homes that could have been built side by side. However, one builder chose to spend greater time on the foundation. This extra time paid off when the storm came.

    Not included in the parable is the time both homes were built prior to the storm coming. The home owner who skipped laying a foundation probably thought he had saved some unnecessary expense. He might have even mocked his neighbor who spent extra time and effort on what appeared to be unnecessary. But the storm changed everything.

    Jesus challenges us to not only hear, but to also do. But in order to even hear, we must have our Bible's open, reading God's truth. When we have learned something in the pages of the Bible, put it into practice, modeling the man who laid a solid foundation. 🙏 📖 ✝️ 👍

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