Built on the Rock
Matthew 7:24 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 . . .
Much of what Jesus spoke about in His earthly ministry consisted of teaching about the kingdom of God, and how we, as believers, might enter into a living relationship with Him and His kingdom.
In this statement in Matthew 7:24, Jesus is making clear the importance of our hearing and doing the things that He taught us. The word must be heard. We must be actively pursuing an understanding of God’s word. But putting it into action is equally as important. The Book of James says that those who hear the word but do not practice it are deceiving themselves.
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Jesus taught in Matthew 6:33 that we are to seek first the kingdom of God, that is, the reign of God’s kingdom in our lives, and to seek His righteousness, His right way of doing things, and that in doing so, kingdom blessing would be released in our lives.
Seeking the kingdom is hearing and doing the sayings of Jesus. He is the King of the Kingdom, and His teachings are designed to lift us a higher level of living than we have previously known. Deep listening is necessary, because understanding of the word of God must be revealed to us by the Spirit of God, as we listen and study. The ability to meditate in the word of God is a skill we must develop to allow God’s Spirit the opportunity to teach us the word of God.
But doing the word, allowing our understanding of the word to change our attitudes and behaviors, and taking action on what is revealed to us from the word, is equally as important as hearing and understanding the word. Jesus likened this process to building one’s house upon a rock.
Matthew 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
What rock was Jesus referring to when He spoke this to Peter? He was speaking of the rock of Holy Spirit revelation, things revealed not by flesh and blood, but by the Spirit of God. And it’s on this rock that we build our lives in God. We hear the sayings of Jesus, the word of God, we receive understanding by the Holy Spirit, and we act upon the understanding we’re given. We hear His words and do them.
Start today to develop and cultivate a daily set-apart time to spend in the word of God, to read it, to hear it, to listen closely to it through meditating and pondering it. But in addition to that, be willing to change your inner attitudes and your behaviors and be ready to act upon the new knowledge you’ve gained. Become the wise one who is progressively building his house upon the rock of hearing and doing the words of Jesus.