21 Days of Prayer and Fasting

Day 6

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” —Matthew 7:24-27

Christ Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” starts in Matthew 5, concluding in Matthew 7:7:24 “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great!” 28 When Jesus had finished this sermon,[k] the crowds were astonished at His teaching, 29 because He was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like their scribes. (Holman Christian Standard Version)

We observe that the storm was severe enough that it pounded the house. Some of us will go through powerful storms this year. What are we built upon? Are we leaning on our own opinion and understanding? Are we hearing and acting on His Truth?
Jesus had a trade of carpenter (builder) in a rocky part of Israel, Nazareth. He uses a word picture to communicate his message. Surveyors use the term point of beginning Getting your point of beginning is critical to initiation of a building project. You will see many homes that are at a high point on their property. The surveyor chooses wisely. You will see other homes built in a flood plain. Not so smart … the rains will come… .

Lord Jesus, may our point of beginning be fixed on You. May we hear Your words and act on them.