Transformed

“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. 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. 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. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” 
Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV) 

When was the last time life knocked you off your feet?  

Perhaps it was a medical diagnosis, a relationship breakdown, or a financial crisis. These storms have a way of revealing what our lives are built upon. 

Jesus tells a powerful story about foundations in Matthew 7:24-27: "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. 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. 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. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." 

Notice that both houses experienced identical storms. Following Jesus doesn't exempt you from life's difficulties. The difference wasn't in the intensity of the storm, but in the stability of the foundation. 

Jesus makes it clear that merely knowing His teaching isn't enough–He asks you to put them into practice. Perhaps you can quote Scripture or discuss theology, but the true test comes when trial hits. Will your faith hold, or will it collapse? 

Building your life on the rock means allowing God's Word to shape your decisions, relationships, priorities, and responses to challenges. It's choosing forgiveness when you've been hurt, generosity when you feel tempted to hoard, and truth when lies seem more convenient. 

Today, examine what you're building your life upon. Are you constructing a beautiful structure without attention to the foundation? Take one area where you've been hearing God's Word but not applying it, and make a concrete plan to put it into practice. 

When the inevitable storms come, you'll be grateful for the solid ground beneath your feet. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You for being my rock and my foundation. Forgive me for the times I've built my life on shifting sand. Help me not just to know Your Word, but to live it out faithfully, especially when storms come. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.