A Call to Action

Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. "But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great." Luke 6:47-49 (New American Standard Bible)

A parallel verse to today’s passage is James 1:22, “Be doers of the word and not hearers only.” Jesus gave strong and contrasting examples of individuals who do and don’t put into practice His words. The similarities are astounding. Both come, hear, and build. But the outcome is dependent upon what is done with what is heard. Floods come to both as well as torrents, but the one not shaken, the one not left in ruins, is the one who lives out the truths he is taught.

I have no trouble coming to Jesus and taking in what He tells me. I have learned to recognize His voice as well as His Words. But I am shaken to the core when I do not practice the things He tells me. Scripture is full of sound advice to be heeded and applied. In many situations of life I know what to do, but like the Apostle Paul, there are times the doing of it is lacking. When that is the case, my house of emotions is shaken as the storms of life hit. God is reminding me that will not be the case if I will begin doing what He has shown me to do. He honors that obedience with strength, stability, and unshaken faith.

This was the center of a conversation I once had with a friend. She saw my struggles and knew when I was dwelling in dark emotional pits. Her words to me are always the same, “start doing what you know to do.” Each action in the right direction will lay a sturdy foundation for me as well as become a wrung to a needed ladder for rising above my moods and thoughts. There is no pretending or blaming, the choice is mine. But within that choice is the premise that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I am not left on my own to make the necessary changes. Each decision is accompanied by God’s grace and enabling.

Victory replaces failure when God’s Word goes beyond my ears. All that I desire for my Christian life and all that God desires for me are possible as I daily practice the things He tells me.

Father, I take responsibility for the choices I am making. I trust You to bring about the necessary changes as I obey. Amen.

This is My Desire - Hillsong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XKxqqhOgVM&feature=fvw

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.