46 ‘Why do you call me, “Lord, Lord,” and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When the flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.’
The following words are from an old engraving on a cathedral in Labeck, Germany:
YOU CALL ME MASTER
You call Me Master and obey me not,
You call Me Light and see me not,
You call Me way and follow me not
You call Me Life and desire me not,
You call Me wise and acknowledge me not,
You call Me fair and love me not,
You call Me rich and ask me not,
You call Me eternal and seek me not,
You call Me gracious and trust me not,
You call Me noble and serve me not,
You call Me mighty and honor me not,
You call Me just and fear me not,
If I condemn you, blame me not.
NOT just about knowing what Jesus teaches – but actually doing it!
John 14:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commands. …. 21 The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father. I also will love him and will reveal myself to him.”
Luke 8 19 Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. 20 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.”
21 He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”
DOING AS JESUS COMMANDS
The Sermon on the Plain
17 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases.
Some words which we read this week which are particularly appropriate at this time
1. In this world of social media – not just what we say to people face to face but what we say to them and about them on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram
2. Following Friday 31st January 2020 and UK leaving EU
THURSDAY
27 ‘But to you who are listening I say: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who ill-treat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. …. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:27-31, 36)
Loving enemies,
turning the other cheek, – let insults pass you by
do unto others as you would have them do to you (The Golden Rule)
– Thumper’s Law, If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all
FRIDAY
37 ‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. …
41 ‘Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,” when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Luke 6:37-38, 41-42)
‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged – don’t spend your life condemning other people
Forgive, and you will be forgiven. (Be merciful as your heavenly Father is merciful v36)
Sawdust and planks = not finding fault
JESUS COMMANDS US TO LOVE OTHER PEOPLE – build our house on the rock!
