Hearers & Doers

Mathew 7: 24-29

“Everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like

A wise man who built his house on a rock.”

Hearers & Doers one of the most popular parables of Jesus Christ. We also see a reference to it in the gospel of Luke 6: 46-49.Here are some reflection that I would like to share.

     1.    Jesus – The Strong Foundation.  

    Vs. 24b says, ‘A wise man who built his house on a rock.’

As for the man who built his house on the rock, his foundation is solid and strong and cannot be shaken, even if there is a hurricane or a tsunami because his foundation rests on a rock that is strong. This very solid rock is also applicable in our life. 

Psalms 18: 2 says   “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

A clear understanding as to Jesus our Lord is the solid Rock in our life. But the question that arises is when disasters strike us can we stand firm on the strong rock in our like? Can we rely on Him?

“Rock of Ages” one of the most melodious and meaningful hymn written by Augustus Montaque Toplady. He lost his father at an early age and it’s his mother’s love that brought him up.  He was very brilliant as it wasn’t possible by any of his friends of cousins to match his caliber. Apart from this Toplady also suffer from TB. So his wasn’t quite appreciated or acceptable in his family or in his peer group.  To mark his brilliance He started delivering sermons from the age of 12. By the age of 14 he started writing beautiful hymns and poems. By the age of 22 he became a priest of the Anglican Church. He lived his life as a priest and a life that was close to God. It was before he died of TB that he started writing this song “Rock of Ages Cleft for Me, Let me hide myself in Thee”  

Vs. 25 b says ‘But it did not fall as it had been founded on the rock.’

Here we see that there has to be a foundation for any building else it will collapse. It was shocking to hear the new that one of the flyover of the so called ‘City Of Flyovers –Surat’ had collapsed a few days back. It was reported of not having a strong foundation. In our life we too need a strong foundation, this foundation rest on the Rock –Jesus. This foundation according to this context is our faith. If we have an uncrushed faith then the chances for us to collapse with this world is like Brazil that lost to the Nazis by 7-1. No strong foundation, No strong defense, the chances for us to sink is more.

Two things we saw could see

·        Our Foundation lies on a strong rock: Rock is Jesus

·        Our  Foundation : Our Faith aspect

        2. Obedience: The foundation of Christian Life.

Vs. 24a says “Everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them”

 

Our obedience can be categorized into 4 parts.

i.    One who doesn’t listen nor does

ii.  One who listen but doesn’t do

iii.One who doesn’t listen but do

iv.One who listens and does.

God expectation from us is to be in the fourth category. But we are mostly in the other 3 categories just like the prodigal sons. It’s time we bring about a change in ourselves and society at large. 

1 Samuel 15: 22b says “Surely to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.”

This is the context where Samuel says to Saul who was the first chosen king of Israel. When Saul had turned back and didn’t carry out what Yahweh had commanded.

 Word may not save us at time but obedience definitely will in the sight of the Lord. Christ here in this context says that the wise man will not only listen but also does it in action. That is obedience. ‘Practice what you preach’ as the old saying goes can be reformed as ‘Preach what you practice.’ 

May the grace of God enable us all not only to be hearers of the word but also doers whose strong foundation of faith lies on the rock called ‘Jesus’. God bless us all.