Gregg DeMey 0:07
Good morning friends and welcome to Elmhurst CRC's daily dose of the Word of God. It's Gregg DeMey, Lead Pastor at the church and it's Thursday, July 11. It's the season of green and growing things, our spiritual lives included as we sit at Jesus's feet and listen to his parables. Today's reading is from Luke chapter 6, verses 46 through 49. It's the conclusion of what sometimes is called the, "Sermon on the plain," which Jesus preached from a level, flat place. Here's what Jesus says:
Gregg DeMey 0:40
Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 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.”
Gregg DeMey 1:21
Jesus words - how did he intend us to take them? Personally, seriously, instructively, transformatively? The foundation on the rock in this final parable of Jesus is Jesus himself. The foundation is Jesus; his person, his work and his words. Jesus invites all of us to set our house and our life on the rock by doing his words. Now, here's some of the very difficult things that Jesus has just said before sharing this parable: Love your enemies. Do not judge, or you will be judged. Do not condemn and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. First, take the plank out of your own eye and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. It is no small or easy thing to do what Jesus teaches, right? To love our enemies, not to judge, to forgive, not to be hypocrites - my goodness! All of those things come so naturally and easily (to me, anyways).
Gregg DeMey 2:38
At the conclusion of his sermon from the plain, it illustrates that faith in him does not provide magical protection against the troubles of the world. Bad weather comes to everybody, the blesseded included. Storms hit, floodwaters rise and in the midst of the trouble, the connection to the foundation is revealed. However, despite whatever trouble or nasty weather is currently hovering over our lives or homes, being rooted on Jesus - his person, work and doing his words - is the only way to find comfort, sanity and peace, both in this life and for all eternity.
Gregg DeMey 3:25
Let's pray, friends. Jesus, we thank you for being our firm foundation. Our lives and houses might be flimsy or dilapidated, but we rest secured the beginning of this day knowing that our foundation is solid in you because of who you are, because of what you've done and because of what you said and taught us. Help us embrace it and live courageously on it. In your name we pray, amen.
