Today is going to be a very busy day, Father. I would ask for Your palpable presence in worship – may we hear Your word clearly and may we take action on it. And as we travel to visit family today, I would ask for Your hedge of protection about us – may we love to the fullest and arrive home once safe and sound. Amen.

Matthew 7:24-27 (<<click the green)

Lord, as I read this familiar portion of Your teachings many things flit through my mind. The study notes in my Bible* make me pause and think as well.

It should not be the case but one of the hardest things for many of us who would consider themselves Your followers is to share our faith in You with others. One thing that stops us in our tracks is the fear of negative repercussions. We fear that they will blow up. We fear that we won’t have all the answers to their questions. In all honesty, we fear that we might lose our friend by offending them in some way.

In many, many ways our excuses are unfounded. And we have extremely important information – life changing information! – eternally impacting information! – that absolutely must be shared!

As You wrap up Your Sermon on the Mount, You share a very simple parable. The individuals in it “both build…both hear [Your] teaching, and…both share the same set of circumstances in life.” And as my study Bible continues, “The difference between them isn’t caused by ignorance but by one ignoring what You said.”

The second study note paints a very clear picture that I can’t say any better.

“Like a house of cards, the fool’s life crumbles. Most people do not deliberately seek to build on a false or inferior foundation; instead, they just don’t think about their life’s purpose. Many people are headed for destruction, not out of stubbornness but out of thoughtlessness. Part of our responsibility as believers is to help others stop and think about where their lives are headed and to point out the consequences of ignoring Christ’s message.”

Lord, please burden my heart for my friends, family, and acquaintances that don’t know You personally. Give me the courage and wisdom I need to convey who You are to me so they might see You through how I live and in what I have to share – verbally – about You. Amen.

*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation

Feb 18th, 2018, Sun, 6:36 am