Our daily reflections follow the M'Cheyne Bible reading plan, designed for those who want to read the whole Bible in one year. Each reflection focuses on one of the chapters from that day's readings. Darllenwch rhain yn Gymraeg.
Lord, prepare me to receive your word. Clear my mind and warm my heart. Assure me of your loving purposes for me, and speak into my life today.
For those of us who grew up going to Sunday school, it’s hard to read these verses without thinking of the teaching song, ‘The wise man built his house upon the rock’. It’s catchy – but it misses the point, which is that while both the men listened to what Jesus said, they were judged as wise or foolish according to whether they did what he said.
Many of us have experienced life as a storm over the last few months because of the coronavirus crisis. But pandemic or no pandemic, storms will always come. We’re buffeted by ill-health, disappointments, trouble at work or family strife. For churchgoers, a place that’s meant to be a loving and nurturing space can become a battleground.
It’s at times like these that we find out what our faith is founded on. If we’ve only listened to Jesus, without letting his words shape how we live, we might find that we don’t have the spiritual or emotional resources to be able to cope. Our character, and our faith, has not developed the resilience and the insight to be able to deal with conflict or setbacks.
In these verses, Jesus is telling us to build strong foundations by practising discipleship rather than just hearing about it. We can listen to any number of good sermons and read great spiritual books, but if they don’t change how we live we probably aren’t learning very much.
God, give me wisdom; help me not just to be a hearer of your word, but a doer, so that when trouble comes my foundations will be strong.
This reflection was written by Mark Woods, Bible Society's Editor
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