Dome of Ascension from southwest, © bibleplaces.com, used by permission.

THE WISE BUILDER

“Everyone, then, who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall because it had been founded on rock."

Matthew 7:24-25

There is a difference between hearing and doing. If they were the same, armchair quarterbacks would earn lots and lots of money. Doctors would not have to complete residencies or fellowships. Tradesmen would never have to complete an apprenticeship. Listening is important, but there is great value in the doing.

The teachings of Jesus are lessons that many of us have heard all of our lives, and they are very comfortable. To others of us, they are new lessons, and we are still trying to soak them up. Jesus wants us to move beyond listening and move into doing. Sometimes we hear things and they go in one ear and out the other, and so we do nothing. Sometimes we are just comfortable with the way things are, and we feel like we don’t really need to do anything with what we have heard. The challenge before us is not just hearing His words but living them. Otherwise, we might grow familiar with God’s blessings and never let them transform us.

Hearing is easy. We can listen, read, reflect, and even agree with what Jesus teaches. Hearing gives us knowledge. However, there is a quiet danger in becoming comfortable with simply hearing God’s word. We listen to sermons, read devotionals, highlight verses, and nod along in agreement. But spiritual growth requires something more; it asks for movement, change, and obedience. Obedience doesn’t earn God’s love; it anchors us in it.

Doing gives us stability. It is in doing that we find our why. We begin to understand the purpose of knowledge, and we see things in a new and different light. Doing increases our hunger for additional information, which in turn stimulates a drive to put into practice our new knowledge.

Jesus describes a life built on a solid foundation. Our foundation must be formed not by hearing Jesus’ words alone, but by doing them. Every act of obedience — forgiving someone, choosing honesty, praying when you feel empty, loving someone who’s difficult, trusting God when you can’t see the outcome — is like placing another stone into the foundation of your life. Jesus’ teachings about kingdom living, prayer, forgiveness, trust, discernment, and authentic faith are all part of our strong foundation. Jesus doesn’t say if storms come — He says when. Life brings rain, rising waters, and winds that shake us. These storms test what our lives are truly built upon. But the difference between standing and collapsing isn’t the size of the storm; it’s the strength of the foundation. When storms come (and they always do), the house built on this foundation stands firm. The trials of life cannot sweep us away when our foundation is on Jesus.

When we practice what Jesus teaches, we are building a life that can withstand pressure, disappointment, uncertainty, and spiritual attack, a life that doesn’t crumble when the unexpected hits. Following Jesus does not remove difficulty, but it changes how we manage it. A life rooted in Christ—His truth, His teachings, His way of love—can withstand pressure because its foundation is secure. Obedience becomes the bedrock that holds everything together when life feels uncertain.

Lord Jesus,

You are the solid Rock. Forgive us for the times we have heard Your teaching but have not put it into practice. Help us not to settle for being hearers only. Anchor our lives firmly in You so that we can be strong.

Help us be courageous to act on what we know is right, even in the small moments. Give us hearts that respond, hands that obey, and the willingness to follow You even when it stretches us. Let Your Word take root in us and bear fruit in our daily lives. Build in us a faith that endures.

Amen.

Are we allowing ourselves to be transformed by Jesus’ teachings? We may know teachings about forgiveness, yet we hold onto resentment. We know we should trust God, yet we continue to worry. We say we love, yet we respond with impatience. Over the last 35 days we have listened to the teachings of Jesus. What one thing has He told you that you know you need to act upon? That is your task today. Let yourself be transformed by His teaching. Be a doer.

A strong, steady life is not built on what we know, but on what we live. Hearing is not enough. Knowing is not enough. Only doing the words of Jesus produces a life that endures. Over time, the everyday choices we make shape who we become. Real faith is not just understood; it is lived.