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Matthew 7:24 - Build Your Life on Christ and His Word.

Matthew 7:24 (NIV) Everyone who hears these 
words of mine and puts them into practice is like 
a wise man who built his house on the rock. 

INTRODUCTION

When we receive Jesus Christ as Savior and 
Lord, we will obey Him, and, as a result, our 
lives will be radically transformed. It's in the 
doing, the obeying, and the living the life of 
faith that we are changed. [Adult SS Quarterly 
6/30/05] 

COMMENTARY PEARL

   To those who believe, Christ is the sure 
foundation. These are they who fall upon the Rock and 
are broken. Submission to Christ and faith in 
Him are here represented. To fall upon the Rock 
and be broken is to give up our 
self-righteousness and to go to Christ with the humility of a 
child, repenting of our transgressions, and 
believing in His forgiving love. And so also it is by 
faith and obedience that we build on Christ as our 
foundation.   
   Upon this living stone, Jews and Gentiles 
alike may build. This is the only foundation upon 
which we may securely build. It is broad enough 
for all, and strong enough to sustain the weight 
and burden of the whole world. And by connection 
with Christ, the living stone, all who build upon 
this foundation become living stones. Many 
persons are by their own endeavors hewn, polished, 
and beautified; but they cannot become "living 
stones," because they are not connected with Christ. 
Without this connection, no man can be saved. 
Without the life of Christ in us, we cannot 
withstand the storms of temptation. Our eternal safety 
depends upon our building upon the sure foundation. 
Multitudes are today building upon foundations that 
have not been tested. When the rain falls, and 
the tempest rages, and the floods come, their 
house will fall, because it is not founded upon 
the eternal Rock, the chief cornerstone Christ 
Jesus.  {DA 599} 

COMMENTARY

   Last night, Jesus got my attention 
through a crime drama on TV. I learned that forensic 
investigators can tell where a crime happened by examining 
sand in the soles of a suspect's or victim's 
shoes. That means, each beach around the world is 
different enough to be recognizable and useful as an 
investigative tool. 
   Coarse or fine sand. Tan, white, pink, 
orange, black, even purple sand. Four beaches in the 
world have green sand. The minerals that make up 
the world's beaches can come from volcanic 
eruptions, ground-up seashells, or erosion of local 
landscape. 
   Another sand lesson came while visiting a 
wet soft-sand beach. If I stood still, the 
incoming and outgoing waves washed the sand out from 
under me, making it difficult to stand. The only 
way I could stay upright was if I kept moving. 
Standing still, I'd sink. 
   What a "moving" picture of my faith walk 
with Jesus! It's so easy to sink when I'm not 
progressing forward. Miss reading the devotional a day 
or two. Stop memorizing Scripture. Skip church. 
Let the world suck me into its vortex of noise 
and chaotic conversations rather than take time 
to listen to Jesus. 
   The sinking sand image sticks with me 
like ... well, like beach sand on a hot day. May 
it always serve its purpose of reminding me to 
keep putting one foot in front of the other as 
Jesus and I walk together. Cynthia Ruchti 
   Faith Step: Find a rock or seashell or 
small jar of sand you can label with the words of 
Matthew 7:6 as a heartening reminder of Jess's 
faithfulness. [Mornings With Jesus 2024 Devotional by 
Guideposts and Zondervan] 

CLOSING THOUGHT

   During a tornado warning in my city a few 
years ago, I was overcome with worry. The 
atmosphere of the sunny spring day changed drastically 
in just minutes. The skies darkened, the wind 
picked up speed, and sirens roared in the distance. 
I hurried to the basement, grabbing my Kindle 
and mobile phone so I could stay weather aware. 
   The Memphis home we live in is almost 100 
years old and has withstood many storms, so I'm 
usually calm in extreme weather conditions. That 
day, however, I realized something about the 
house for the first time. Every room had windows 
and, unless I squeezed into one of our closets, I 
was likely to be in harm's way. I found comfort 
in heading to our basement, where the 
foundation is solid and less likely to be destroyed. 
   Within a few hours, the sirens stopped, 
the winds died down, and the skies cleared. The 
tornado did not hit our neighborhood, and I felt 
free to roam around the house again. And I 
realized that my true Foundation - Jesus - is solid 
and comforting and will keep me safe from harm. 
Next time there's a storm, wherever and however I 
decide to respond to it, I know my ultimate 
protection from danger lies in Jesus. Ericka Loynes 
   Faith Step: Don't wait until a spiritual 
storm comes to prepare for it. Draft a plan now. 
Will you call a prayer partner? Recite scripture? 
Something else? Write down what you want to do and 
display the list where you can view it regular. 
[Mornings With Jesus 2024 Devotional by Guideposts and 
Zondervan] 

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY

Matthew 7:24 - Build Your Life on Christ and 
His Word. 

https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230629-1034.html 

James 1:22 - Living the Word.

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230623-0845.html 

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

https://abible.com/links/