Dear Family,
Today is Thursday, May 4, 2023. It is Day 26 and day 5 of Week 4 as we continue our Count to Pentecost.
God presented ancient Israel with Christ the Rock in the wilderness several thousands of years ago. Then, about two thousand years ago, He presented the living, breathing Jesus Christ Who spoke the Words of life as He preached to His disciples and the multitudes that followed Him. Today, we have daily access to the Rock and to His Words of life.
From both of these examples, hopefully, we have learned the importance of Jesus Christ as our Rock (1 Corinthians 10:4) and our Source of the Words of life (John 6:63). Jesus has told us we must build as a wise man builds – upon a rock. In Matthew 7 Jesus described the foundational rock upon which we must build as the words He spoke, “these sayings of mine.”
Matthew 7:20-28 (20) Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (21) Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. (22) Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? And in Thy name have cast out devils? And in Thy name done many wonderful works? (23) And then will I profess unto them; I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity. (24) Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: (25) And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. (26) And every one that heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: (27) And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. (28) And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at His doctrine:
We need this indestructible foundation. We need this unmovable, stable, stedfast foundation. Jesus Christ is our Rock and the Words of God are our foundation. Jesus said the house will stand when one “heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them” (verse 24).
Today, I have a challenge for each of us. Take a few moments and consider each of the following questions: How much of the Word of God do we know? How much of what we know do we use? How much can we recall of what Jesus Christ spoke as a human being bringing God’s good news? How many of His parables can we list? How much of this do we really understand? How much of this foundational knowledge do we know well enough to pass on to others?
As true disciples of Jesus Christ I know we want to earnestly learn and love what God has to say. These words He spoke are the foundation of our way of life. May God bless us to discern the Word of God and build on our Rock-solid Foundation. May we hear and DO the Word of God. The Word of God is worthy to be shared with others who also may hear, do, and live.
Ben Faulkner, Pastor
©2023, Church of the Sovereign God