“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.”
– Matthew 7:24-27
Yesterday, we talked about being able to thrive in chaos and how doing so is a sign that we are living in the fullness of the Kingdom of God. Today, we’re going to continue that discussion by looking at how Jesus teaches us a similar principle in the parable of the wise man who built his house on the Rock. Many of us are familiar with the story, but its moral is that a life rooted and grounded in the Lord can withstand any kind of weather. In essence, Jesus is teaching us in this illustration that rains are coming! Winds are coming, too! And although you don’t know how far the winds will blow and from which direction, you can be prepared for them. Likewise, the rains may be torrential and they may come often, at least for a season, but you can be ready! How? Build yourself up! When life is going well, start preparing for the storm; read books, pray, have quiet times, and study God’s word. When you do, you will be prepared for the inevitable change of weather. Just as the tide laps up and down on the shore, there are highs and lows through all of life. As you train in the good times, you’re prepared to be victorious in a season of suffering. I recently returned from a visit to Oklahoma, where I spent some of my growing up years. Having lived there for a season, I can tell you that Oklahomans are always prepared for any kind of weather. On my last trip, I was sitting with a group of people in a circle and one person mentioned that it was colder that morning than they thought it would be. Someone else chimed in and said, “Yep, but it’s supposed to be hot this afternoon.” And another lady said, “You know, it’s so funny, if you don’t like the weather in Oklahoma, just wait five minutes, it’ll change!” Having experienced this first hand, I know that no truer words than those were ever spoken. However, because everyone there understands that the weather patterns are unstable, they are not surprised by a sudden change in the conditions. Friend, I encourage you to become an Oklahoman in your faith! When the weather’s good, build your life and grow in the knowledge of God’s truth. If you seek anything from Him, make it His wisdom; the kind that will enable you to withstand the rigors of even the strongest storm. As you train yourself to desire the gifts of His Spirit above all else, you will bring the hope of His Kingdom to this crazy world in a powerful way, and outsiders will watch as you weather the deepest waters with peace in your heart! Isn’t that an awesome privilege? |
Prayer
Jesus, thank you for blessing my life with seasons of preparation. I commit to building myself up in your truth so I am ready for any kind of weather.
Reflection
What type of weather are you experiencing in your life right now? How can God’s truth see you through it?
One Response
These are the exact scriptures that our pastor spoke about at our wedding. These words became an accurate predictor of the many storms my husband and I would face in our lives and how God would help us to stay rooted in our faith. I am happy to report that, indeed, our house has withstood it all BECAUSE IT IS founded on the rock of salvation. Thanks be to our heavenly father who covers us with his love and gives us courage and hope. Jesus’ words are words to live by. I have shared this daily devotional with my son today. Share it with someone you love today! ☔