Both from Beside the Still Waters...
We Get What We Build - Read: Matthew 7:15-27
"And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell." - Matthew 7:2
The story is told of Tom, who was a builder for many years, widely known for quality workmanship. Finally the time came when he decided to retire. After Tom told his employer of his plans, the boss said that he wanted Tom to build one more house. Tom reluctantly agreed, but he was so weary of toil and so ready to retire that he cut corners and used inferior materials. He knew how to do this in ways that could hardly be detected. When the house was complete, Tom's employer congratulated him and gave Tom the keys. He said, "This is your retirement home, free of charge." Tom was dumbfounded, but he had to live with the results of his personal choices.
Are we, like Tom, tempted to cut corners? No amount of good deeds will compensate for one act of dishonesty or other sin. "But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned" (Ezekiel 18:24). Paul wrote, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption" (Galatians 6:7-8).
In this life we can make mistakes and repent, but things will be different when we stand before God to be judged. Any hidden sin will condemn us because it's too late then to repent. Let's make sure everything is cleansed by the blood of Jesus now. Our labors must be "not with eyeservice, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God" (Colossians 3:22). If we always carefully heed the Master Builder, we can be assured a safe and blessed home in eternity.
Denver Yoder - Somerset, OH
"For God shall bring every work into judgement, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." - Ecclesiastes 12:14
From Be Still and Know...
"I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word" (John 17:6).
In this scripture verse, Jesus is praying specifically for His disciples and all those who would come to a personal faith in Him down through the ages. "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word" (John 17:20)
"I have manifested thy name unto them." The word "name" has the meaning of person or character. Jesus came to show people Who God is and what He is like. "It is true no one has seen God at any time. Yet the divine and only Son, who lives in the closest intimacy with the Father, has made him known" (John 1:18, Phillips).
He continued, "They have KEPT THY WORD." One time Jesus said to His disciples, "Will ye also go away?" Peter replied, "Lord, to whom shall we go? THOU HAST THE WORDS of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God" (John 6:67-69).
God has given us His Word and it is His special message to us. There must be consistent reading of His Word, day by day that we may know His message for us.
We must not only know His word, but we must KEEP it. We must be obedient to it. "Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it" (Luke 11:28). "If a man love me, he will keep my words" (John 14:23).
What place does His Word have in your life today? Are you walking in obedience to it? Can the Lord Jesus say of us, "They have kept MY Word?"
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