LUKE 6:46-49 – “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?  Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

THEME OF THE DAY: JESUS IS LORD. The opening question Jesus puts forth in today’s scripture is one of the most penetrating, heart-probing, and revealing ever to confront a professed believer in Jesus Christ.  It does the deepest and most thorough surgery of self-examination we will ever do and must do.

Just think about this for a moment.  The Lord who already knows the answer to His question is causing us to look deep into our hearts and ask ourselves the following self-examination questions, “Are our public professions of faith that Jesus is Lord validated by our thinking, speech, actions, worldviews, and lifestyles?”, “Is our proclaiming Jesus is Lord backed up by our living Jesus is Lord?”, and  “Do people who know us best and observe us the most see genuine Christians who walk the talk?”

Our Lord doesn’t leave us in the dark as to the answer to His question.   When He asks it, He attaches the only answer. Jesus says, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?”  We may summarize it with the words – obedience to His Word. But He isn’t done . . .

Jesus follows His answer with two examples as illustrations both right and wrong.  He does so by using two “construction firms” building houses.  The wise and acceptable firm builds a house on a solid foundation that will be secure when bad weather comes. It will last.  The unwise and rejected firm did not do so.  It built its house upon the ground, maybe sand, without a foundation.  When the weather turned bad, this shaky house was destroyed.  And it is the former that depicts what the obedience to God’s Word does. It not only makes our profession of faith in Jesus true, it stabilizes a believer’s life on the firm foundations of the Living Word, the Lord Jesus, and the written Word, the scripture.   Without obedience, there is no stability in life.  The “bad weather” of difficult circumstances, emotional turmoil, anxiety, and a host of other trials destroys the life not built on obedience to the Word of God.

So, two applications for us.  First, take an inventory in life.  Are we spiritually, emotionally, and mentally stable?  If not, it might be because we profess Jesus is Lord but lack obedience to His Word affirming He is Lord in our lives.   The second application, either increase or start more aggressive obedience to God’s Word, out of love, not unhealthy fear.   And remember, obedience is always intentional.  We obey on purpose.

Jesus is Lord. As we boldly make this profession, let’s ensure we boldly live this profession so people will see the reality of His Lordship in our lives and world.

PRAYER:  Lord, may my profession “Jesus is Lord” be validated by my living “Jesus is Lord”.

REFLECTION:  The daily challenge of being a Christian is striving to match our practice with our profession.