Matthew 7:24-29
Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Sit comfortably and breathe deeply for a few seconds before you begin. As you breathe in, say the name of Jesus and become aware of his presence with you. As you breathe out, open your mind and heart to receive whatever Jesus has for you today.
Today’s passage is the conclusion of Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. Read Matthew 7:24-29, and then enter into a time of reflection about what you have learned over the past few weeks.
James, the half-brother of Jesus, in his letter to Jesus’ followers in the diaspora wrote the following:
“…don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.” James 1:22-24
One has to wonder if James was among those listening to Jesus on the mount that day, because this is the lesson Jesus drives home as he presents the summation of his teaching. It is not enough to know the instructions of Jesus, we must live them out in his power. And as we move in the direction Jesus is calling us, he reveals more of himself to us, and more and more we become the people God created us to be.
Stop to consider how much you know about the teachings of Jesus. If you were to fully live out even a percentage of what you know, how might your days look different? Talk to Jesus about this for a moment.
Read Matthew 7:24-29 again picturing the house built on a foundation of solid rock and the house built on sand as rains, floods and winds begin to buffet them.
James went on to write the following:
“But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.” James 1:25
In a world where “easy, always” is the norm, the availability of input is unending. If we were to listen deeply to every source of information, we wouldn’t have time for anything else. But what if the words presented to us were the very source of life, meaning and purpose?
That’s what Jesus is, and his words are not just information; they are the power that sustains us and holds us together.
Apparently crowds of people gathered around Jesus and his disciples that day on the mount, and when they heard what he said, they sensed deep in their souls that this was true.
For the last minutes of this time of reflection and meditation, sit in the presence of Jesus and listen. You can distinguish the voice of Jesus from your own thoughts partly because of the weight of authority his words carry and partly because his words will always be in line with what he teaches in the Gospels.
What do you sense Jesus saying to you today?
What will you do to live that out?
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The Everyday Jesus Follower’s Guide ebook can help you learn how to recognize God's voice, how to read and understand the Bible, how to develop deep spiritual friendships, and how to become the person you were meant to be. Use it alone, with a friend or in a small group.
