Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.
-- Matthew 7:24-27 (ESV)
Augustine, Sermon on the Mount:: "The rock means the steadfastness of his obedience. Not the one who says, 'Lord, Lord,' but the one who does the will of the Father -- he builds upon rock. The rains of temptation descend, the floods of worldly prosperity rise, the winds of the devil rage -- yet the house stands, because it is founded not on hearing alone but on doing."
Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit:: "The test is not what you built but what survives the storm. Many a man's religion looks well in fair weather. It is when the rain descends and the floods come that we discover whether the foundation is rock or sand. God sends the storm not to destroy but to reveal."
John Chrysostom, Homilies on Matthew:: "He did not say, 'Everyone who hears and understands,' but 'everyone who hears and does.' For hearing without practice is like a man who sees food and will not eat -- he perishes of hunger all the same. The word is given for this purpose: that it be put into action. Without action, even the wisest sermon passes through the soul like water through a sieve."
Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ:: "Jesus hath now many lovers of His heavenly kingdom, but few bearers of His cross. He hath many desirous of consolation, but few of tribulation. Many follow Jesus unto the breaking of bread, but few to the drinking of the cup of His passion. Many admire His miracles from afar, but few follow after the shame of His cross."
What part of your life is built on sand that you keep calling rock?
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations V.1:: "In the morning when thou risest unwillingly, let this thought be present: I am rising to do the work of a human being. Why then am I dissatisfied if I am going to do the things for which I exist and for which I was brought into the world? Or have I been made for this -- to lie in the bedclothes and keep myself warm?"
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