Day 275, or October 2nd. Are you listening? Our
thoughts today come from Matthew 7, verse 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. First, the
big picture surrounding this verse. Matthew gives
three whole chapters recalling several sermons
and teaching sessions by Jesus. They are best
known as the Sermon on the Mount. They begin
with the Beatitudes such as, Blessed are the
poor in spirit, or as one of the modern versions
of the Bible puts it, God blesses those who are
poor and realize their need for him, for the
kingdom of heaven is theirs. Jesus' teaching
continues unabated through these chapters, and
includes perhaps the best -known words of Jesus,
the Our Father Prayer, taught to help the disciples
pray. All this takes place on the shores of the
Sea of Galilee, where there is a beautiful reminder
today called the Church of the Beatitudes. And
now today's action step. Our verse for today
is from the final story of the Sermon on the
Mount. Right at the end, the punchline, I suppose
you could call it, a thought that Jesus' hearers
would take away with them. It seems even when
hearing Jesus, listening can be a matter of in
one ear and out the other, without the brain
being disturbed. When the Bible talks about hearing,
it means so much more than being present when
words are spoken. Have you ever sat through the
notices at church or maybe the weather forecast
at home and then been none the wiser because
you weren't really listening? In a Hebrew mindset,
you have only heard when you act. If you don't
act, then you haven't heard. This must be the
backdrop for James as he argues that actions
prove you have faith. So what about you and me?
Do we put into practice what we learn from God?
Don't sit there feeling guilty, just resolve
to listen better next time, and then, with God's
help, act on your new teaching. You could make
the world of difference to the world.