Lent Day Twenty Four
“Matthew 7:21-27”
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the realm of heaven’s kingdom. It is only those who persist in doing the will of my heavenly Father!
22 On the day of judgment many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, don’t you remember us! Didn’t we prophesy in your name? Didn’t we cast out demons and do many miracles for the sake of your name?
23 But I’ll have to say to them, ‘Go away from me, you lawless rebels! I’ve never been joined to you!’
24 “Everyone who hears my teaching and applies it to their lives can be compared to a wise man who built his house on an unshakable foundation. 25 For when the rains fell and the flood came, with fierce winds beating upon his house, it stood firm because of its strong foundation.
26 “But everyone who hears my teaching and does not apply it to their lives can be compared to a foolish man who built his house on sand.
27 For when it rained and rained and the flood came, with wind and waves beating upon his house—it collapsed and was swept away!”
We live in a rootless generation, with so many searching for firm foundations on which they can build an authentic, fulfilled and impactful life. Where should we point people? How should we guide?
Having delivered what many believe to be the wisest teaching ever to come from human lips in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus concludes his speech with a simple story about two builders. What’s often missed is that they have much in common. Both build. Both no doubt take time and care. Both finish. And both then face storms. Jesus says that these builders are like the two kinds of people listening to his sermon. Both hear his words. Both are seeking to build good foundations in life. Both face storms. But like the builders in the story, there is a difference between his listeners. Just one. It is of such significance that when the wind and rains come, one will fall and the other will stand, for like the buildings, one is built on a firm foundation but the other on sand. So what’s the one difference between his two kinds of listeners? It’s this: those with firm foundations are those who do what Jesus says, and those on sand do not.
That’s it. That’s the only difference. One puts into practice Jesus’ teaching and the other doesn’t.
This explains why Christian preachers and teachers must preach from the Bible and encourage people to not just listen to what it says, but apply it to everyday life. Like Jesus says in The Great Commission, we’re called to ‘make disciples’ not just by baptising people but also ‘teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.’ Not some things. Not the easy things. But every-thing. Even the tough bits about praying, giving and fasting; about sacrifice and service and doing to others as we’d have them do to us; about taking up our cross and following him.
This Lent, as we follow the way of the cross, let’s marvel and wonder at Jesus. Let’s not be afraid to tell people about Jesus. To commend and present Jesus. And then invite people to do what Jesus says. For that is what it means to truly follow the Lord Jesus Christ: we do what he says. It really is the firmest foundation in life.
Matthew Porter
Matthew Porter is a follower of Jesus and a leader in God's church. Married to Sam, they have five grown up children and love living in the North of England. Having served churches in Sheffield and York and been an Honorary Chaplain to the Monarch, Matthew is now the Bishop of Bolton.