The Message (MSG)
Luke 6:47-49
"Why are you so polite with me, always saying 'Yes, sir,' and 'That's right, sir,' but never doing a thing I tell you? These words I speak to you are not mere additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundation words, words to build a life on.
"If you work the words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who dug deep and laid the foundation of his house on bedrock. When the river burst its banks and crashed against the house, nothing could shake it; it was built to last. But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don't work them into your life, you are like a dumb carpenter who built a house but skipped the foundation. When the swollen river came crashing in, it collapsed like a house of cards. It was a total loss."
It is all about the foundation! A beautiful house, like a beautiful life - has to be built on a solid foundation or it will not stand up to the storms that come its way. We all know that something can look great on the outside and not have the infrastructure to stand up to adversity on the inside. We have all seen lives, churches, beautiful buildings and companies that look so good on the outside and yet when something really tough comes their way, they crumble. I have seen some people go through things that I personally can not even imagine - and yet come out of those times with amazing faith and strength. How can they do that?
These verses tell us that our lives must be built on Jesus - our Savior - and on His Word. They are "foundation words - words to build a life on." What a serious warning that if we treat God's Word - whether it is words we hear someone speak or words that we study - as life improvements or simply nice ideas - we are building our life on the sand. It simply won't stand up to the test, trials and struggles that will inevitably come our way.
When I see how ever changing my life is - how people move in and move away - how plans change - how jobs come and go - how new people enter our lives and others exit - I am so very thankful that I have the solid foundation of Jesus in my life. He must be Everything to me. He must be Enough. He must be central to everything in my life.
There is an old hymn that says it quite well. Enjoy these words - let them wash over you and rest in Jesus - our Sure Foundation.
"If you work the words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who dug deep and laid the foundation of his house on bedrock. When the river burst its banks and crashed against the house, nothing could shake it; it was built to last. But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don't work them into your life, you are like a dumb carpenter who built a house but skipped the foundation. When the swollen river came crashing in, it collapsed like a house of cards. It was a total loss."
It is all about the foundation! A beautiful house, like a beautiful life - has to be built on a solid foundation or it will not stand up to the storms that come its way. We all know that something can look great on the outside and not have the infrastructure to stand up to adversity on the inside. We have all seen lives, churches, beautiful buildings and companies that look so good on the outside and yet when something really tough comes their way, they crumble. I have seen some people go through things that I personally can not even imagine - and yet come out of those times with amazing faith and strength. How can they do that?
These verses tell us that our lives must be built on Jesus - our Savior - and on His Word. They are "foundation words - words to build a life on." What a serious warning that if we treat God's Word - whether it is words we hear someone speak or words that we study - as life improvements or simply nice ideas - we are building our life on the sand. It simply won't stand up to the test, trials and struggles that will inevitably come our way.
When I see how ever changing my life is - how people move in and move away - how plans change - how jobs come and go - how new people enter our lives and others exit - I am so very thankful that I have the solid foundation of Jesus in my life. He must be Everything to me. He must be Enough. He must be central to everything in my life.
There is an old hymn that says it quite well. Enjoy these words - let them wash over you and rest in Jesus - our Sure Foundation.
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
Refrain:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
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