Matthew 7 - Sound bites

Have you noticed when people today want to convey an important message its done in sounds bites - one, concise message - a headline, a status, a tweet, a billboard. Jesus too had great means of conveying his messages. He used "visual" bites - word pictures - metaphor - images.

Matthew 7 contains a few of them... a plank in your eye ... a wolf in sheep's clothing ... good trees and fruit ... and this one:

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. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

At the end of this section of the Sermon on the Mount(chapters 5-7) Jesus concludes with the word 'therefore'. I heard someone say once that whenever there's a 'therefore' you should find out what it's 'there for'!

In this instance Jesus is saying that those who have heard His message and put it into practice are wise. Those who just hear it and don't change the way they live, they are foolish. What are the main points 'sound bites' Jesus taught in this specific chapter? Here are few ideas I gleaned:

1. Be gracious. Don't be critical of others... no one's perfect. (sawdust)

2. Be humble. Realize you have faults too... the sin you see in others may be one you need to address. (plank)

3. Be discerning. Realize that not everyone is who they appear to be.... otherwise some will turn to devour you, and others will lead you astray. (dogs & pigs)

4. Be reliant on God. Realize that He will provide all you need as a father does for his children. (loving Father)

5. Be authentic. God isn't interested in those who play act the Christian life - doing what they think is right without the right motivation. (wolf in sheep's clothing)

This way of living isn't always easy. In fact it's often difficult. It isn't the way most people live. Most people are on the way through the wide gate. Life in God's Kingdom involves walking/living along the narrow path that leads to the small gate. This is the way of the wise. It is the way that ensures we aren't capsized by temporary struggles or passing trends. Living in the Kingdom, Jesus' way, results in a stable life because our life is grounded on the solid foundation of Christ.

As children we sang this song ... do you remember it?
The wise man built his house upon the rock
The wise man built his house upon the rock
The wise man built his house upon the rock
And the rain came tumbling down

Oh, the rain came down
And the floods came up
The rain came down
And the floods came up
The rain came down
And the floods came up
And the wise man's house stood firm.

The foolish man built his house upon the sand
The foolish man built his house upon the sand
The foolish man built his house upon the sand
And the rain came tumbling down

Oh, the rain came down
And the floods came up
The rain came down
And the floods came up
The rain came down
And the floods came up
And the foolish man's house went "splat!" [clap hands once]

So, build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ
Build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ
Build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ
And the blessings will come down

Oh, the blessings come down
As your prayers go up
The blessings come down
As your prayers go up
The blessings come down
As your prayer go up
So build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Life in relationship with Jesus Christ - prayers going up and God's provision 'coming down' to us. This is life in the Kingdom of God and a wisely lived life.

The crowds were amazed by Jesus words. He had authority like no one else. I wonder how many chose to heed his words and live differently? I wonder how many will today?