Message Magazine’s Online Devotional for Monday, May 25, 2015
Based Upon Luke 6:47–49
It’s one thing to nod, raise our hands toward heaven with our eyes closed as if carried away in ecstasy saying, “Amen” to the Word of God, but it is another thing altogether to bow our heads and lives in humble submission to the Word. The Bible says: “Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.” (Luke 6:47–49).
The Bible is full of examples of people who chose to model their lives after God’s revelation. There are stalwart characters like Abel who heard the command of God, recognizing the blessing of salvation that chose to surrender themselves Him as living sacrifices. There are those like Enoch who loved nothing more than to walk and talk with Jesus and consistently told Him all about his life’s struggles and triumphs. There are those like Hannah who would stop at nothing to receive the richest blessings heaven could offer, and then turn right around and yield the same blessings into God’s care. There are those like Anna whose highest honor and joy was to live in the presence of God and share the message of Jesus with as many people as would listen. There are those like Elisha who would never allow the power of God to be present without receiving all of it by faith. These and others like them are they of whom the Bible says, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; That bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; That saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!” (Isaiah 52:7). These are they who kept the commandments of God and had the faith of Jesus.
Everyday of our lives we are faced with two choices: We can either model our loves after the similitude of wickedness, which is transient and combustible, or we can emulate the rich characters who daily built their lives upon the foundation of the world itself, Jesus Christ.
With the constant threat of hurricanes and other storms around the world in the last days, we can well appreciate the need to feel secure. All that we have and much of what we think is immovable can quickly be swept away. When the waves of life begin to surge steadily toward our spiritual experiences are we safe? Will we be able to stand the earth shattering events that will most certainly test all of our faith? If we build upon the sure Foundation, Jesus Christ, no trial or difficulty will ruin us. No matter how rough things become, if we continually build our lives upon God and His Word, He will undergird us and we will remain faithful until Jesus returns.
