Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ (Ro 1:7). Amen.
Severe weather is not out of the question any time of the year around here—from snowstorms in winter to thunderstorms in the spring. Sometimes there is so much hail that snow plows have to be brought in to move it like last Sunday in parts of this area.
And if the threat gets bad enough, we have different alerts in place. There are the sirens blaring from poles, notifications waiting on phones, and messages scrolling on TVs. Often it comes down to the reality that awful weather is coming, it is just a matter of when. We want to be ready. So we listen for them and to them. Jesus makes a similar point, or better, a spiritual point, when he talks about some tempests. Be the right kind of hearer—hear confidently and consciously. We read from …
Matthew 7:24-27
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus who is wisdom from God,
So how do you react when those weather warnings are out? I suppose there are two options—disregard them completely or do something quickly. Find a trusty shovel in the garage or safe place in the basement. Especially if someone tells you too—like a weatherman who is standing outside in the dangerous elements encouraging you to be inside. Or maybe dad.
Today is Father’s Day. It is a chance for us to honor those men in our lives by acknowledging and appreciating them—faults and all. One of the things that we might thank them for is their words of wisdom, based on their experience or expertise over the years. The greatest of which is if they passed on what their fathers told them as the psalmist said: “the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done” (Ps 78:4). That way the next generation “would put their trust in God” (Ps 78:7). Moses echoed that as he took his leave of his people. Christian education was a family affair. “Teach them [that is, Moses’ words from God] to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Dt 11:19). That is worth giving our ear to.
As Jesus wraps up his teaching on the hillside in Galilee, he shares true wisdom. He uses the picture of building a sturdy house that will endure. We would do well to listen.
Be the Right Kind of Hearer
1. Hear confidently (24-27)
2. Hear consciously (24-27)
1. Confidently (24-27)
For the realtor it is all about the location. For the contractor it is all about the foundation. In a sense, Jesus combines the two—the location and foundation—as he instructs. Be the right kind of hearer. Hear confidently.
When the temperature is pleasant, students always seem to make the request, “Can we have class outside?” Jesus did that—whether the plea was there or not. We usually refer to it as “The Sermon on the Mount” (Mt 5-7). Before he puts an “amen” on it, he puts an “ahem” to it—like we might clear our throat to grab one’s attention. In case there was anyone who might be drifting off, he directs them to a comparison—two builders who represent two hearers, one wise, one foolish. It is not a matter of graduating at the top of the class as opposed to the bottom. This is not what a person’s GPA is. It is where an individual’s faith is.
Keep in mind these are disciples at Jesus’ feet—listeners and learners. In his lecture, he is not training them how to become a child of God, but how to be a child of God. That is an important distinction. It is how they were to live their life of faith that was the purpose of his lesson plan.
Those who believe in Jesus have eternal life (Jn 3:16). He is the way the truth and the life (Jn 14:6). It is not what we do, but what he did—living perfectly in our place, dying willingly on our behalf. Those are words of eternal life (Jn 6:68). We want to hear them often and heed them—turn to them and trust in them. That is “work of God:” “to believe in the one he has sent” (Jn 6:29)—Jesus.
To illustrate that point, Jesus speaks of two men and their building projects. It is not how they were made—like The Three Little Pigs. The big, bad wolf huffed and puffed and blew in the one of straw and the other sticks but not the last one because it was constructed of bricks. It comes down to where they were made in Jesus’ contrast. The two houses might have looked alike.
The wise man built his house on the rock, or bedrock, something solid and stable. The foolish man built his house on sand, something shaky and suspect. So when the same rain fell from above, the same water rose from below, and the same wind gusted from the side, the one held up like a skyscraper standing tall in the city and the other fell down, and hard, like the tide talking out a sandcastle on the beach.
Jesus is the only foundation for our faith (1 Co 3:11). We build on him. Not just during the storms of life—and that is crucial. Sometimes temptations come fast and furious, others times troubles come slow and steady. We lean on Jesus’ presence with us at all times. We look to Jesus’ promises to us for all things (Acts 14:22). Nothing separates us from God’s love in Christ Jesus (Ro 8:39). On him we will never be put to shame (1 Pe 2:6).
But Jesus as our foundation is more important at the end of life. That is critical. We don’t put our stock in our savings, but in our Savior. We don’t to pass off our righteousness, but put on Jesus rightness. As the apostle Paul reminded us, “a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known” (Ro 3:21). From him to us. We are now right with him because he declares us “not guilty.” It is for free and for nothing. It is grace—unmerited. It is because Jesus’ blood cleanses us from all sin (1 Jn 1:7).
It is God’s Word that makes us wise, wise for salvation (2 Ti 3:15). If it came down to our effort or our endeavors, that would be a flimsy foundation. But if it comes down to Jesus, that is a firm foundation. Be the right kind of hearer. Hear confidently. Build on Jesus, the chief cornerstone (Eph 2:20), the living Stone (2 Pe 2:4). He alone saves.
2. Consciously (24-27)
A realtor will pay attention to what a potential buyer wants after a contractor has taken note of the floor plans. The walls and windows are all in the right place. Jesus wants the same kind of careful listening. Be the right kind of hearer. Hear consciously.
Jesus continued to tutor his pupils. A child of God responds to the love from God with a life for God. We are saved by faith alone, but saving faith is not alone (Eph 2:8-10). Not some of the time, but all of the time. With the two men, the preface is the same: “everyone who hears these words of mine” (Mt 7:24,26). The distinction is what is next:
• “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice” (Mt 7:24). That one is wise, sensible.
• “Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice” (Mt 7:26). That one is foolish, senseless.
Jesus doesn’t just want his words to go into our ears, but come out in our actions. A listening and a doing, not just a nodding and not doing (Ja 1:22-24). I know that school is out. But think of a student who hears the homework, but leaves his book in the locker as he heads home. That won’t end well in the grade book.
“Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it” (Lk 11:28). If you think of what that means in Jesus’ discourse:
• We are poor in spirit (Mt 5:3)—beggars with nothing to offer, but everything to receive like forgiveness of sins and a home in heaven.
• We are peacemakers (Mt 5:9). We promote it, not prevent it in our relationships.
• We are salt—serving as a preservative in a sinful world (Mt 5:14).
• We are light—shining as a reflection of the merciful Lord, so others praise our Father (Mt 5:14).
• We seek first God’s kingdom, not worrying about this or that (Mt 6:25-34).
• We keep on asking, seeking, and knocking in prayer (Mt 7:7).
All of that and more. Be the right kind of hearer. Hear consciously. We put into practice what Jesus states. It is not to get things, but to give thanks.
I have not checked the weather for today. So far so good. I am not sure if there is anything to be careful of. But with all we have, it should not catch us off guard. If there is, we will listen closely like to a great dad. Be the right kind of hearer. Hear confidently. Build on Jesus and only on Jesus. He is the right person. Hear consciously. Build for the right purpose. Out of gratitude for Jesus. We can’t and won’t go wrong. Amen.
To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen (Ro 16:27).
June 18, 2017
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