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Putting the Word of God into Practice, June 30
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will
liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock ... and it fell
not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Matthew 7:24, 25
.
Jesus ended his teaching on the mount with an illustration that presented with
startling vividness the importance of putting in practice the words He had spoken.
Among the crowds that thronged about the Saviour were many who had spent their
lives about the Sea of Galilee. As they sat upon the hillside, listening to the words
of Christ, they could see valleys and ravines through which the mountain streams
found their way to the sea. In summer these streams often wholly disappeared,
leaving only a dry and dusty channel. But when the wintry storms burst upon the
hills, the rivers became fierce, raging torrents, at times overspreading the valleys
and bearing everything away on their resistless flood.... But high upon the hills were
houses built upon the rock. In some parts of the land were dwellings built wholly
of rock, and many of them had withstood the tempests of a thousand years.... And
wind and flood and tempest beat upon them in vain.
Like the builders of these houses on the rock, said Jesus, is he who shall receive
the words that I have spoken to you, and make them the foundation of his character
and life. Centuries before, the prophet Isaiah had written, “The word of our God
shall stand for ever” (
Isaiah 40:8
); and Peter, long after the Sermon on the Mount
was given, quoting these words of Isaiah, added, “This is the word which by the
gospel is preached unto you (
1 Peter 1:25
). The Word of God is the only steadfast
thing our world knows. It is the sure foundation. “Heaven and earth shall pass
away,” said Jesus, “but my words shall not pass away” (
Matthew 24:35
).
The great principles of the law, of the very nature of God, are embodied in the
words of Christ on the mount. Whoever builds upon them is building upon Christ,
the Rock of Ages. In receiving the word, we receive Christ. And only those who
thus receive His words are building upon Him. “Other foundation can no man lay
than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (
1 Corinthians 3:11
). “There is none other
name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved” (
Acts 4:12
).
Christ, the Word, the revelation of God—the manifestation of His character, His
law, His love, His life—is the only foundation upon which we can build a character
that will endure....
As you give heed to the light you have, greater light will come. You are building
on God’s Word, and your character will be builded after the similitude of the char-
acter of Christ. Christ, the true foundation, is a living stone; His life is imparted to
all that are built upon Him. “Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house”
(
1 Peter 2:5
, ASV).... That building no tempest can overthrow (
Thoughts from the
Mount of Blessing, 147-150
).
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