I am writing this piece to be posted elsewhere so I thought I should put it on my own blog too.
Matthew 7: 24 - 25 says,
" Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.
Here are some of my personal thoughts with regards to the verses above:
1. Obedience as an expression of wisdom
Matthew 7 (also cf Luke 6: 46 - 49) likens a man who is obedient to one who is wise. Proverbs 1: 7 says: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instructions. Proverbs 9: 10 also says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
A man who is wise does everything with a God-fearing heart. Not fear in the sense that 'if I make a wrong move, God will strike me dead'; but fearing God with a sense of awe, with a full knowledge of His sovereignty and authority. A wise man invests in the right place, putting in time and effort to build his house upon the rock.
Are you investing time to go deep into God's word, and take the effort to obey His commands? It will not be easy, it will take time; and sometimes it will be messy. But when the days of tribulation come, this will keep you standing. Only through the obedience of God's Word that you will experience His faithfulness, His power and His grace, that will enable you to be obedient. Only by experiencing Himself through His word and through your obedience, will you be able to firmly ground yourself against trials and tribulations. You will not be shaken because you know the God you have experienced. You will then be able to say with certainty: The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer, my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold (Psalm 18: 2).
A wise man knows that he has to build his house on a strong foundation; and he knows that God Himself is his rock!
2. Obedience as an expression of love
"If you love me, you will keep my commandments (John 14: 5)."
Do you know what truly enables obedience? Love. Fear does make a person submit. But how does a person willingly obey if there is no love? It is easy to obey instructions out of fear. But how does one love one's enemies from one's heart unless motivated by another form of love - love for God who loved us when we were once His own enemies (Colossians 1: 21)? How does one be joyful at all times unless one knows he is kept in God's love and God's will?
John 1: 53 says, "This is love for God: to obey His commands. And His commands are not burdensome."
Are God's commands a weight in your heart, chains on your hands and feet? Are they a set of do's and don'ts fixed on standards so high you cannot reach? Are you turning away from Christ because your cross is just too heavy to bear - and His words judge you and damn you because you fall short, and you are unable to obey?
Unless we are like Mary, worshiping Jesus at His feet, we will never find joy in obedience. If we obey and serve with Martha's hands, but without Mary's heart; we will never find joy in obedience. We will burn out without love for the Lord. But obedience founded with love is a joy, is a relief. It does not find God's commandments burdensome, because it has instead become a channel by which overflowing love could be expressed.
Dear friend, may you be wise in obeying the Lord, and find God showing Himself faithful to you; for God honors obedience. Do so that you may stand firm in times of tribulation, due to your constant experiencing of God and His grace. But do so even more as an expression of the love on your heart, that you may find joy in obedience, that your obedience itself is a form of worship better than sacrifice that the Lord finds pleasing.
