First Week of Advent - Thursday

Today's scripture readings are ones that are very familiar to anyone who goes to church on a regular basis. I am glad that they have surfaced here during the Advent season because often what is familiar and routine is often over looked and missed. Take the time to read these words again. Then, close your eyes, relax, breath deeply putting away all of the distractions around you and read them again. However as you read them, hear them as if Jesus was sitting right there with you, looking you in the eyes speaking to you.

Matthew 7:21-27

True and False Disciples

²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

The Wise and Foolish Builders

²⁴ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Just because I know the company line doesn't make me a company person. Just because I sit in the garage doesn't make me a car. I must not only talk the talk, I must walk the walk. I must become a doer of the word. In doing that, in becoming an obedient doer, I am building my house on not only a rock but on The Rock. After coming through these past eight months of rain and storm and more rain, I have a fresh, vivid understanding of standing against the rain and what it takes to do so.

Father, as I wait for your coming, as I prepare for your presence, I thank you for your words that enable my finite mind to understand your infinite love for me. Thank you for your corrections of my ways and for the map that you provide taking me from from here to Your heart. Amen. - DD