[Jesus speaking]
Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.

--Parallel verses:
‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭31‬-‭32‬
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

From where do I build in life? What kind of foundation am I building from?

These questions are tough ones to ask yourself and they require honest reflection and an accounting. The world tells us we do not need a foundation of truth to live. It says “The truth is relative. You can bend and twist it to suit your purposes. Just be true to yourself.” This is hogwash! The truth is defined by God. He created us, he sustains us, and he planned in advance for our great success in life. This success is found by building our lives on the foundation of his truth. So, holding to Jesus’ teachings is akin to building on his foundation. “So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.’” (Isaiah‬ ‭28‬:‭16‬) It is with God’s truth as our firm foundation and Jesus, his Son, as our cornerstone, that we will not be shaken; that we will not be moved. Jesus said “I AM the Way, the Truth, and The Life.” (John 14:6) So actually, he is both our foundation and our cornerstone.

The process Jesus lines out at the beginning of this passage is critical. We must: 1) come to him, 2) hear his words, and 3) put them into practice. Coming to Jesus involves submission and surrender to his sovereignty and lordship. He is the boss of my life, I am his servant. Hearing his words means we must pause our busy lives and actually listen with the intent to understand how they apply to our lives and the intent to obey. And putting his words into practice involves action, reflection, refinement, and increased effort to perfect our actions. We must try, try harder still, and push on to perfection, in the power of God’s Spirit, to acheive a practice of obedience to the Word of God.

Lord, teach me to never give up and to always seek you out. I want you to refine my heart with your ways and your truth. I want to be practiced at being a servant to all and honoring you. I want to come to you, listen, and quickly obey.