The Rebuild: Matthew 5-7ნიმუში

John was proud of his CV. He had two undergraduate degrees, first-class honours and a PhD. That’s eleven years of full-time study! However, when it came to finding a job, he had no end of trouble. In interview after interview, he was told that he didn’t have enough work experience. Oh, the disappointment!

In a similar way, Jesus was aiming this parable at people whose religion was all head knowledge and lacking real-life application. The Pharisees and teachers of the law, no doubt, felt the sting.

Real wisdom, declared Jesus, comes from listening to and acting on His words. Obeying His words about anger, adultery, divorce, oaths, prayer, fasting, storing up treasure, how we respond to worry cultivates true wisdom. It is this wisdom that transforms us on the inside and makes our faith durable for life’s ups-and-downs. This is something only Jesus can do for us.

Religion as mere head knowledge is unable to save: “The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” But a life of true devotion and obedience to Jesus is a house that does not fall because it is “founded on the rock.”

Today, ponder this: Is there ‘head knowledge’ you have stored up that you should really turn into action? What parts of your life need to be exercised in discipleship? Take time now to pray and commit them to God… then take a tangible step to do something about it!