Tag Archives: the book of Matthew

“But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” (Matthew 7:26-27, NLT)

Most of our personal calamities or failures occur for lack of obedience to Jesus’ teaching. It is not because the calamity is God’s “payback” for our disobedience; rather, it is because we have ignored God’s blueprint, and we discover — frequently in tears — that our own designs and choices are inadequate for the stresses of life.

It is helpful to note that in Jesus’ parable, both houses are beat upon by the rains, and assaulted by the floods.  However, only the house built on a solid rock is able to withstand the events that test our foundation.

When the next storm of life arrives, will your life’s foundation prove adequate? Jesus says, “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.” (verse 24)  – Luther

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“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8, NLT)

A commentary on these verses in The People’s New Testament says this: “The terms are here used with reference to prayer, and these constitute a climax. Ask implies a simple petition. Seek indicates an earnest search. Knock shows perseverance in spite of hindrances. The three represent earnest prayer.”

Discerning sense from nonsense in the topic of prayer tries the patience of even the most stalwart of Christian disciples. Everyone seems to have an opinion on the topic; and some of these opinions appear contradictory.

In every such instance, return to the simple words of our Christ:  Ask.  Seek.  Knock.

God knows what we want before we ask, but He is delighted by the petitions of His children, in the manner of a shall child who always takes all of her joys, concerns, and hurts to her father’s ear, because, “My daddy can do anything!”  – Luther

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“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.” (Matthew 7:21, NLT)

Do not allow inaction to invalidate your profession of faith.

Jesus says that it is not just by our confession (who we say we are), but also through our obedience (what we do) that we establish our lives as securely as a house that is built on bedrock. (Please see the verses that follow: Verses 23 and 24.)

Clearly, it is not only our creed (from the Latin word credo, meaning “I believe”) that impress our heavenly Father; it is action that is consistent with our creed of divine discipleship that receives our heavenly Father’s approval.

How different is that from what we see today: Professions of belief without action?

Strive to let your good deeds speak more loudly than your good words.  – Luther

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