38 lines
1.9 KiB
Markdown
38 lines
1.9 KiB
Markdown
|
+++
|
|||
|
|
title = "Luke 6:46–49"
|
|||
|
|
date = "2022-11-13"
|
|||
|
|
+++
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Lk6.46-49)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The Sermon on the Plain ends with a final warning against hypocrisy. Even
|
|||
|
|
though "out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks" (_v. 45_), it is
|
|||
|
|
not enough to merely speak the right things. If we call Jesus Lord (and we
|
|||
|
|
should, because He is), but don't obey His commands, then we are lying. It's
|
|||
|
|
not a popular idea nowadays, but God is in charge and has every right to tell
|
|||
|
|
us what to do. It is our place to humbly submit to Him&emdash;that is, agree
|
|||
|
|
that He is in charge and obey what He tells us.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Jesus then explains that there are great benefits for acting this way. God
|
|||
|
|
blesses and protects those who obey Him, just like the man who built his house
|
|||
|
|
on a solid foundation. The flood rose and beat against the house, but didn't
|
|||
|
|
shake it. In contrast, the man who does not do what he hears God say loses the
|
|||
|
|
house he built on the sand.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
It's possible to take this parable and interpret it in a couple of ways: from
|
|||
|
|
an earthly or an eternal perspective. I think both are valid, but one is truer
|
|||
|
|
than the other. For example, I know a man who hasn't been able to get a steady
|
|||
|
|
job for two years now. He continues to serve in the church faithfully, cares
|
|||
|
|
for his family, and takes odd jobs while he looks for the position he really
|
|||
|
|
wants. His wife told me recently that they have more in their savings account
|
|||
|
|
now than they did when he lost his last full-time job. The floodwaters of life
|
|||
|
|
have certainly come against this family, and their house stands firm. How much
|
|||
|
|
more sure, then, is their eternal security? Hunger and sickness may yet find
|
|||
|
|
them, despite everything we may do, but when they die (not _if_), they will be
|
|||
|
|
with the Lord they love. And there is no better place to be than that.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
* * *
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Help us build our faith upon Your Rock, obeying You in all things, so that we
|
|||
|
|
may stand before You at the end of the age, with all joy.
|