The Life and Ministry of Jesus
“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Matthew 7:26–29
It is easy to fool the pastor, our friends, and even ourselves. All we have to do is learn the vocabulary and adapt some cultural conventions. But Jesus does not want any of us to fall to such delusion. In verse 13 he warns of “destruction.” In verses 15–20 he speaks of branches being burned. And in verses 21–29 he refers to the possibility of his publicly rejecting us and of the edifice of our lives suffering total destruction.
The issue is Heaven or Hell. Jesus believed in Heaven and Hell (in fact, he said twice as much about Hell as about Heaven), and he came to deliver us from Hell. He wants us to take note of our lives and where they are going! 1
Personal Encouragement
Your life matters today. You’re always free to make your own personal choices, but you’re never free from the consequences of those choices. Build wisely.
Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:4–5
Wisdom: is hearing and heeding the words of Jesus.
A Prayer
Lord, thank You for amazing me everyday when I simply trust You.
1. Hughes, R. K. (2001). The sermon on the mount: the message of the kingdom. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
