Daily Devotion for August 24, 2024

 

Devotion:

For an audio version of this devotion, click here.

Read Matthew 7:24-27.

There is a key phrase in verse 24: “...and puts them into practice…” Jesus makes it clear that it is not enough just to listen to him and even agree with him. It is not enough just to believe (and affirm) in your mind what Jesus says. It’s just as important to put his teaching into practice in your everyday life and in your relationships with people. It is a follow-up emphasis to what he had just said in verse 21: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father….” It is not enough to say that Jesus Christ is your Lord if you are not living your life according to his way.

Jesus follows this up with a great illustration of two people building a house, one on a solid foundation and another on a weak foundation. When the storms came (and they inevitably come to every person), only the house/life built on a solid foundation was able to keep standing through the storm. 

Be reminded and encouraged today to build your life on the solid foundation of the teaching and way of Jesus Christ. Keep learning and growing every day in living by what he taught in both words and actions. Later in this same Gospel (22:34-40) he will sum up his teaching and way this way: Love God and love people. That’s a solid foundation on which to build.

Personal Worship Option:

Edward Mote wrote the words to the hymn “My Hope Is Built.” The refrain is the perfect line for this passage. I invite you to repeat it throughout this day: “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.”