WORK THESE WORDS INTO YOUR LIFE // A BLOG SERIES // PART 1
In Matthew 7:24-27 Jesus shares an incredible picture of how essential God’s Word is for building a LIFE THAT LASTS.
“These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock.
26-27 “But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.” —Matt 7:24-25 MSG
I love The Message translation of this passage.
Jesus had just finished sharing the “greatest message ever” (Matthew 5-7). We call it “The Sermon on the Mount.” He wanted to make certain that everyone who heard it — His disciples, the crowd, the religious critics and the curious — understood, and me and you understand, that after hearing or reading that kind of message, it’s impossible to remain neutral. Truth always demands a response. Always. You can’t hear, read or meditate on God’s Word and remain the same. You have to take action. So Jesus shared the above story and illustration.
He said, “These words aren’t incidental additions…” In other words, “That stuff I just taught… Well, it’s a whole lot more than cool motivational quotes for you to post on your social media wall.”
He went on. “These words I speak…are not…homeowner improvements to your standard of living…” Wow! In other words, “This isn’t a choice between Formica, quartz and granite countertops. Truth isn’t optional. It’s essential.”
Jesus let us know the importance of His Word when he said, “These are FOUNDATIONAL words, words to BUILD A LIFE ON…” —Jesus
“These are FOUNDATIONAL words, words to BUILD A LIFE ON…” —Jesus
That statement, in and of itself, is radical!
Jesus is straight up saying that His teaching provides a SOLID FOUNDATION that will provide support, stability, structure and strength for your life.
But, He was crystal clear. It’s not enough just to hear those words being taught or shared in a Bible study, small group or worship experience. We also have a role and responsibility. We have to take the time and apply the energy and effort to, “work these words into [our] life.”
Think about that for a moment. What does it look like to “work these words into [our] life?”
God’s Word is Your Sword! Improve Your Grip On It!
SIX WAYS TO GET A GRIP (WORK GOD’S WORD INTO YOUR LIFE):
- READ the Word of God for yourself. (The INDEX finger reminds us to read it!)
- HEAR the Word being read or taught. (The MIDDLE finger reminds us that we need to hear it.)
- MEDITATE on it. (The RING finger reminds us to meditate on it.)
- MEMORIZE it. (The LITTLE finger or Pinky Finger reminds us to memorize it.)
- STUDY God’s Word. (The THUMB reminds us to study it.)
- APPLY it or PUT IT INTO ACTION. (And, the PALM of the hand, remind us that we have to apply it or put it into action.)
It’s impossible to get a strong grip on the sword without all four fingers, the thumb and palm working together. But when they all cooperate, a sword becomes a powerful weapon in the hands of a skilled swordsman. It’s the same with God’s Word! When we use all six of these ways to “work God’s Word into our life,” we can grip and grasp the Word of God in a way that it becomes a powerful weapon we can use against our adversary and enemy.
Over the next several days, we’ll walk out all SIX WAYS to “work God’s Word into our life” and improve our grip on the “sword of the Spirit.”