“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:24-27

Jesus practically gave us the instructions for living the Christian life through His Sermon on the Mount. For some who heard it with their own ears that day, they might have walked away having only heard it and not let it take root in their life. In the last 21 days, you’ve probably heard the Holy Spirit speak very specifically through the Word of God. If this is a moment where you are casual about what you’ve heard, then Jesus’ words can easily never take the journey from your head to your heart.

As Jesus finishes this great sermon, He is careful to challenge the listener. He says, if you only hear these words and do not build your life upon them, then there is no support in place for when your faith is challenged. We must not only be hearers but doers of the Word (James 1:22-25), and as we do, the foundation of our life is built by each step of obedience. A foundation that weathers the storms of this life and ushers us into the way of living in His Kingdom.

Pray:

> What has the Holy Spirit spoken to you over these 21 days that is calling you to a step of obedience? Ask Him how you can take a simple step of obedience today.

> That we would be a church that actively engages with and responds to the Word of God. That we would not only consume His Word but live it out.