URC Daily Devotion Friday, 21 November 2025

St Matthew 7: 24 – 29

Jesus said:  ‘Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock.  And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!’ Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching,  for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

Reflection

This is well-known parable about houses on firm and insecure foundations has an obvious meaning: proper foundations are necessary.  It is unwise to build on sand, because the foundation will be unsteady and the building will eventually suffer some kind of damage. It will waste resources, and all the time and work put into building will have been for nothing. In contrast, it is wise to build on a sure foundation; anchoring to bedrock makes a building withstand testing times.

But Jesus’ sermon was not concerned with house construction or building code violations. We find the spiritual meaning of the parable in the very first verse: “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”  We are each building a life where the proper foundation is Jesus’ words – not just the hearing of them, but the doing of them, too.

It seems at times that everything in the world is set up to make us turn away from God’s words.  Often, our own feelings pull us toward doing the exact opposite of what the Bible says. But the wise will follow the words of God despite these pressures because they trust God.
As we follow the Lord, learning to trust and obey Him, and finding security in Him, we receive a reward: our “house” is steady and solid, unshaken by circumstances. The wise are the believers whose lives are built upon the rock of Christ; in this world they have faith and hope, and in the next everlasting life and love.

Is your life built on the rock of Christ making your foundations sure?

Prayer

Dear God
You are a wise and clever God,
please help us to hear your voice, feel your love
and guide us in your ways of wisdom 
as we build our faith on a strong foundation.
Give us wisdom to know the difference
between the gentle guidance of the Holy Spirit
and the noisy foolishness of our own minds and hearts.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen