Reading the sermon on the mount recently, I was struck by Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:24, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on a rock.” Whoever hears these words and “puts them into practice“…

I’m realizing more and more that I do what I want to do. To say it another way, I do what I value. So if you want to know what I value, watch my life (that’s a scary thought)…

A friend of mine said it well referring to prayer. He confessed to me that he wasn’t praying much, then he said this line, ‘If I’m honest, the reason I’m not spending time in prayer is because it’s not important to me.’

We do what is important to us. That’s why putting Jesus’ words into practice is such a big deal.

Obedience is the indicator of how much I believe (and value) the words of Jesus.

Rick Warren says it this way, “We only believe the parts of the Bible we actually follow.” Disobedience isn’t just bad behavior. Disobedience exposes that fact that are hearts are hard to God’s truth.

Obedience is crucial and even foundational to our faith – because it’s indicative of a heart that has been transformed…

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on a rock.”