February 3, 2012
Today’s Text: Read Luke 6:46-49
Today’s Key Thought: We have a solid, storm-resistant foundation when we do what God has commanded.
Today’s passage is such an interesting one. Jesus starts out by asking an important question. “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” He then goes on to compare the person who does what God says to a person who built their house on a solid foundation. He then goes on to compare the person that disobeys God to a person who built their house on the sand. One foundation will hold up the house, and the other will not. The point is this that there is security in doing the things God has told us to do. Why? Because He is the one that designed you, redeemed you, and now directs you. He has your best interest at heart. When we follow Him, He won’t lead us astray. But when we follow our own desires that go against His will, we get into all kinds of trouble. Think about it this way: What is all the heartache that could possibly come from disobeying God’s will about relationships? Now what are the advantages in following God’s will in our relationships? Do you see the security that comes from trusting in God by obeying Him.
Application:
Is there an area of your life (giving, serving, praying, finances, thought life, marriage, with your parents) where you aren’t being obedient to what you know God wants you to do? Take care of that today!
Study the Scriptures with Ben Jennings 
My area would probably be reading the bible.
I’m always like: but I have to do school first or something. I’m always putting it off and then after a while I forget. That’s why now I’m being held accountable for doing my devotions, and let me tell you, it works.
Great job Ben!! thats awesome!
Thanks!
Mine… I feel is prayer… Because I’m like oh
I’ll do it later and then later comes and I’m like.. Eh I don’t wanna do it! So then I keep puttin it off. Well I’m getting better at tht. I dont do tht as much I’m getting better! 🙂
I with Ben, mine is reading the bible more I’m really good at praying but I keep putting it off and then at the end of the day I’m like oh I’m tired I’ll do it tomorrow and then I don’t I just blow it off I’m having alot of trouble with reading my bible but I’m gonna work on it and I will be able to read the bible with out blowing it off hehe! 🙂
I would have to agree with Tristian. My prayer life could be better. And it should in light of everything going on in my life. I go back and forth with consistency in this area. I also would have to say our finances could be more honoring. I guess it’s easy to get so tired that we just forget what is really important. Why is this the concept of obeying God and doing His will on a daily basis so hard? I guess it always comes back to the “flesh”. We tend to automatically rely on ourselves other than God. This is why it is so important to stay in His word and pray daily. It will help to take the “me” out of the day, and replace it with God who created me.
One of the things I have learned is that if God call you to do something He will provide away. He provides away we just have to take a step a faith and trust Him that He will provide. He wont call you to do something and then lead you astray.
Yeah I would have to say my prayer life is my area like I no I should pray more but for some reason I just for get I mean it’s getting better like i’m starting to pray more but I just know I need to do it more.
“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” i think that is so ironic haha. If i paraphrase it, it’s like saying “Yo God, I love to call you my master, but I’m not going to do anything you tell me to do” Even though it sounds ridiculous we all do it at some point or another and try to do it our way. I think that’s what it’s talking about with the houses. We can choose to listen to God, do it His way(even if it makes no sense) or we can do it our way and fail.
My biggest problem area is definitely giving. I get so selfish and I just want to do everything for me, me, me….that’s all that exists in my world. When I take a step back and get out of that mindset everything else just kind of falls in place how it is supposed because I’m thinking about other things beside myself. So, basically I just need to think about others more and make sure that my only concern in life isn’t “what about me… I need..Give me…Do that for me..blah blah blah…me me me..”
First step in giving: Ill pray for all of you to be able to get better in your problem areas 🙂
Love you guys, see you sunday. GO PATRIOTS 😉
Doing what God says isn’t always easy, but in the long run it’s so worth it! If God is the foundation of our life, seriously, it would be so much better! We talked about this in Sunday school a long time ago! Sandi and Laura used the white board so we could see a visual of what our life would be like without God as the foundation. They used a house with a bad foundation as an example and showed how it wouldn’t stand up straight, and it has a better chance of getting ruined if a storm (or something like that) came along! Well it’s the same thing with our personal lives. If we’re not obeying God or letting Him be #1, life will honestly be more difficult! Life is tough as it is, but God cannot make it any worse, only better!
I think I struggle the most with praying. When I was younger, I thought it was weird to talk to God when He doesn’t physically talk back, it would always feel like I’m talking just to myself! But it’s different now, I know God hears every prayer and I try my hardest to take everything to Him. It’s not always easy though. I get so distracted when I pray, it’s not a good thing. So I know I really to think of a time and place where I won’t get distracted and I can just focus on God!
Great job on the comments everyone! See you Sunday 🙂
mine probably is reading the Bible more.i’ve been slacking on my devotions lately.i need to stop putting it off.im always like oh i’ll do it later and when its later im like i don’t feel like it i’ll do it tmrw.but I shouldn’t be like that.love you guys and seeu sunday.oh and by the way… PATRIOTS ALL THE WAY BABY!!!!!!! heehee 🙂
Mine is probably prayer too!
I’m so proud of all of you guys!
the best part of that comment is “PATRIOTS ALL THE WAY BABY” haha jk but seriously you rock. good job on your devotions 🙂
For me, I think the biggest thing God has laid on my heart has been to be a better steward. I need to be a better manager of the things God has given me, because it’s so important. I’ve been really working on this, especially with my time. I’m an awful manager with my time.. I could eliminate a lot of stress, if I was a better manager with my time. God has revealed a lot to me latley, especially in the areas I need to seek Him more in. Prayer is also a huge one. I need to add more things to my prayer life, as well as praying more frequently. The bible says to pray without ceasing, and I think sometimes that’s a struggle for me. In my small group on Wednesday, I know a lot of the girls said prayer was something they really needed to work on too. Prayer is crucial, and something we definetly can’t live without. So being a better steward and improving my prayer life are the two areas God has pointed out to me that I need to work on.
Great comments everyone! Glad to see a lot on here today! Keep it up!