eFollowingJesusJan31 - Building a house (read Matthew 7:24-29 - printed below)

   What is the goal of life?  We want "to be happy."  Often we measure happiness by whether we are having "fun" or not.  But what if we got up in the morning and said "What can we do so we can be faithful today? or good?  Is what we are doing helping each other or our children to become wise? or holy?"

   "Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain" (Psalm 127:1).  Jesus concludes his masterful sermon with a metaphor from construction - and as an apprentice carpenter, Jesus knew building.

   The storm to be feared is not merely the struggles of life:  the real storm to weather will be God's final judgment.  What kind of life have you constructed?  What is its foundation? its material? its use?  In deciding what checks to write, what to stick on your calendar, what you have avoided, shows you've watched, words you've said, all your activities, have you lived out Joshua's pledge?  "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15).

   Lord, my house is in disarray.  Do not merely spruce it up a bit.  Demolish its flimsy foundations, and rebuild my house on Your will.

James

james@mpumc.org

Sunday's sermon, "Do not be anxious" (on Matthew 6:25-34), may be heard by clicking here.

Notice our web site's front page features stained glass from our Church - on Matthew's story!  Wednesday at 6:45, I will share a program with Leslie Rindoks (designer) and John Daughtry (photographer) as we talk about How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place - the beautiful new book featuring stunning photography of our sanctuary and entire facility, and inspirational meditations, along with fascinating historical material on the development of Myers Park and our building - available for purchase at our gift shop on the lower level next to the lobby entrance, Goodness Gracious!

Here is the full text of Matthew 7:24-29 -  24: "Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; 25: and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26: And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; 27: 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." 28: And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29: for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

The full eFollowingJesus series (thus far!) may be found on our web site.