Day 4: Thursday, January 9
"My Attitude in the Face of Knowing, Retaining, and Putting into Practice"
by Nelson Lainez
Matthew 7:24–27 (NIV84) 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.”
Jesus concludes the great Sermon on the Mount, and His followers are amazed at His teaching! However, He knew that many would return home and quickly forget everything they had heard. Surely, this has happened to you more than once!
Therefore, He reminds us that being wise is not merely about hearing His words. We must retain them and then put them into practice. Let us follow the example of the wise man, who learned to:
Listen: When we listen to His Word, we are filled with spiritual knowledge. We are no longer blind, confused, or frightened by our problems. The stories and teachings of the Bible fill us with faith and hope. We come to know His promises and understand what pleases God!
Retain: To avoid forgetting His Words, we must allow them to penetrate our hearts and transform us. This is achieved by taking pauses in our day to be alone with God, meditating on what we have read and heard from Him. The Word of God must confront, shake, and change our lives. Let the power of His Word penetrate our souls, enlightening us to see what is wrong, so we can cleanse and sanctify our beings.
Putting into Practice: How do we put the Word of God into practice? We do so by making changes in our behavior, thoughts, and way of living. This includes ceasing to do wrong (sin) and practicing justice and love for our neighbors. We must overcome pride and anger, and also learn to forgive those who have offended us.
Action of the Day: After meditating on His Word today, ask the Lord to reveal what aspects of your life need change, and to provide you with opportunities to implement those changes as you grow and mature in your faith. Additionally, seek His wisdom to face the new challenges and difficulties that may arise in this new year.
Additional Reading: James 1:22-25