November 5, 2022 - Matthew 7

Jesus finishes his “Sermon on the Mount” by calling for us to build on solid ground: “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock” (7:24-25). No wise builder seeks to put up a structure without a blueprint and without knowing that he is building on good, solid ground rather than that which is loose, sandy, or wet soil. He does his due diligence by studying his building site and remembering all that he has learned from his training and trade. Likewise, we build our lives well only when we pay attention to and follow good and wise directions. And where might we discover such directions? In God’s Word, of course! The wise person hears the words of Jesus and does them; the foolish person hears his words and does not do them. It’s pretty amazing, isn’t it, how often we are given this encouragement to stay in the Word and to live by it.

The psalmist declared, “I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life” (Psalm 119:93). Jesus encouraged, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63). Let’s spend some time in God’s Word, today, that our own testimony will be, “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97) for it tells us about our God and draws us to our Savior.

My hope is built on nothing less

than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:

all other ground is sinking sand;

all other ground is sinking sand. --Edward Mote (1834)