December 26, 2023

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING:

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1.27)

“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. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house. Because it had its foundation set on the rock, it did not fall.” (Matthew 7. 24-25)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

Let this be the point of the entire Sermon on the Mount[ainside]: everyone who hears the words of Jesus and puts them into practice is like a wise man who builds his house on the rock. As I reflected yesterday on the truth of what it means to sincerely say “Lord, Lord” as being those who not only hear the word but become the word and do the word, so we see its iteration in these closing statements of Jesus to all those who had gathered to hear Him teach. Regardless of their intention for coming to that place near Capernaum and to take note of what Jesus said, Jesus spoke the truth “in love of God” so that all would know of the singular accountability of authentic faith in God. That accountability was “being” a disciple of Christ doing what the Father of all expected, intended and created them to accomplish. The unshakeable and immutable Word of God was without comparison. Its roots were in the Old Testament revelation shared with the seeker (such as Abraham and Moses), the priests (such as Melchizadek and Aaron), the kings (such as David and Solomon) and the prophets (such as Elijah and Isaiah). The faith such as these possessed was the rock of stability and continuity. It was not a foundation created by any human being. It was a foundation established by God alone for the sake of His glory and for the benefit of His creation. That faith was placed into Adam and Eve and it was challenged by them as well in the confrontation between Lucifer and Yahweh Elohim. God’s faith never changed. It maintained the covenant which God had made with Adam and Eve even in their disobedience. It proved God’s fervency in His decision of dealing justly and fairly with Lucifer. God, His faith and His righteousness is unchangeable and endures forever.

How that faith is presented by God to us and through us to God may vary greatly but its purpose never changes as to the standard by which “faith achieves.” Its purpose only changes when it is not faith in God alone. When we put faith in ourselves as a stand alone reality, our eyes deviate from that path that is established before us. That path leads to the House of the Lord which endures forever. David recognized it and set it as the crowning glory of “The Shepherd’s Psalm.” Jesus proclaimed it when He stood in the Temple marketplace saying “My Father’s House was always intended to be a house of prayer, beth shalom, but instead you have allowed it to become a den of thieves robbing God and others to satisfy your own lusts for money, power and glory.” How the Temple as Jesus knew it to be was intended for all to come and bow down before the Lord God, Maker of Heaven and earth, to give thanks, seek forgiveness, find redemption and be established in the realm of the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in Heaven. It was not to be limited to Jews only. It was exclusive to those who experienced the truth of God’s favor and love and in obedience built themselves as a city set on a hill whose light turned away the darkness. Faith in one’s self alone extinguishes that flame, as if it really could be done, and promotes instead the darkness of doubt, fear and unrighteousness. It causes the eyes of people to see the storm, the destruction, the anticipation of desolation and to hide in hope that the storm will pass. What it fails to do is to see the one who is in the midst of the storm and holds it in control to serve a purpose of challenge and faith. Such faith as this causes the peace to step to the front and extend to the far corners of the earth. There is a day when all storms will cease because the faithful will live in peace. But, as in a hurricane, such peace exists in the “eye” of the storm while the storm continues to rage beyond the wall of wind, water and earth. The Kingdom of God is like the rock on which the wise man will build. It remains firm, unmoving, unchanging and more powerful than the storm. Being rooted not only on the rock but into the rock declares that the peace which surpasses all understanding rules and reigns. It is beyond the ability of the enemy to change it and defeat it.

Jesus challenged all the hearers and listeners to have such a faith in God. Jesus was the evidence of such a faith because He was a hearer of what God said to Him and a doer of what God instructed Him to do. He was able to do so because He kept His faith in God not just because He was Jesus’ heavenly Father but because He was God. The exercise of such wisdom is appropriate to each of us as we prepare to step into a new year. Where shall we put our feet? Where shall we put our roots? Where shall we establish our home? Where will be built our house?

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, You have revealed to us best in Jesus the Christ. By Him and Him alone shall we gain this eternal life and our place in eternal rest, living for You always. Show us more and by Your Holy Spirit instruct us in the way we should go, the truth we should reveal and the life we shall live with you forever. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN.