Your Choice

The Sermon on the Mount, recorded in Matthew 5, 6, and 7, offers us a chance to see the teachings of Jesus on many of the choices we may be called on to make in life. There is teaching, for example, on having the proper attitude when we pray, how to handle worry, fasting, judging others, and numerous other choices we will face.  In your reading time, please read these three chapters in Matthew for some eye-opening teaching from the Lord.  The part I wish to look at today is the final six verses of chapter 7. 

Matthew 7:24-29

   ²⁴ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”  ²⁸ When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, ²⁹ because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. 

In the illustration of the wise and foolish builders, we have the opportunity to see  how important right choices are.  Examine some of the choices you have made........wise or foolish?

Notice also, in the illustration, regardless of your good or bad choices, the adversity of the storm is bound to come. When you consider all that Jesus taught in this sermon, he is giving us instructions on how to handle situations which may come to each of us.  Thus the importance of his opening line, "Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice....."  and there is the key. It is not only learning the right choices to make, but practicing them as well. 

The crowds were amazed at the teachings of Jesus, because he taught as one who had authority. Here is a choice for us to make. We who recognize the teachings of Jesus and his authority, must make the choice of placing our lives under that authority. Making the other choice is foolish.

Another day of making the right choices is here. Where will you build? Will the storm be enormous? Is disaster looming?  The tough questions will be resolved by listening to the words of the Teacher who speaks with authority, then practicing what He teaches.  The choice is yours.