John: Putting Belief Into PracticeParaugs

Coaching children’s sports can be crazy-making if you aren’t prepared to let things go. You can tell a young child how to kick a soccer ball correctly, swing a baseball bat, or pass a basketball, but until they actually do what you’ve told them, they won’t improve. Coaching young kids in sports takes a lot of patience. You must find joy in the process, not in wins because kids often need to hear and see things numerous times before they’ll do it.

Jesus makes a similar point at the end of Matthew 7. In the famous parable about the wise and foolish builders, Jesus says, “everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man.” While at the same time, “everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man.”

The message is profound. Wise living is doing what you have heard Jesus tell you to do. Foolish living is hearing his words and then doing something else.

This profound parable caps three chapters of teaching that are often called “The Sermon on the Mount.” It’s a sermon from Jesus that teaches Christian ethics and what it means to be in God’s kingdom in everyday illustrations the average people of his day could understand. In today’s video, pastor Kyle Idleman says that belief is “more than with just your words; it’s how you live. Ultimately, belief is proven or expressed through your lifestyle and commitment.”

God may direct you to do something this week through prayer, Bible reading, a conversation with a Christian friend, or by his Spirit. Even if God doesn’t direct you to do something specific, chapters like Matthew 5-7 are filled with God’s wisdom for daily living in his kingdom. So, the question for us is: will we hear Jesus’s words and put them into practice—or will we not?

Reflection

How do you demonstrate your commitment to God on a daily basis? Write down whatever comes to mind. No matter how small.

Looking over your list, what would you like to change? In what part of your life do you want to show more commitment to God?

In today’s clip, Idleman says, “The way you pray or your lack of prayer has a way of telling the true story of what you believe or don’t believe.” In what ways is this true about your beliefs?

Prayer

Dear God, I desire to live today wisely. Like the man who built his house upon the rock, I will rely on you as my foundation. Help me to put your words into practice in my life today. I love you, Lord. Amen.