Prepare for Easter

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

About My Father’s Business:

A Lenten Devotional Guide

“Everyone who comes to me and hears My words and acts upon them...is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation upon the rock; and when a flood 0ccurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it has been well built. But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”
Luke 6:47-49 NASB

Haiti has just experienced two earthquakes. One man said the damage is so severe that the entire country should be rebuilt.

Having witnessed the building process in that little country, I understand what he was saying. The concrete blocks are so thin that they cannot withstand strong force – water, wind or quake.

Jesus, of course, is not talking about actual houses in the above passage. He makes that clear when he says there are two different kinds of hearers: one listens and does as his teacher says; the other listens and ignores the directions of his teacher. The first one builds a life that may be shaken but is not destroyed by the circumstances of life. The second builds a life that crumbles when the big tremors begin to shake his comfortable dwelling.

As we watched the horrors of Haiti, we felt both sad for their suffering and thankful to be secure. But we must think about more than buildings. Are our lives built firmly on the teachings of Jesus? Do we even know for sure what those teachings are? His Father’s business was that he teach us how to live, and he has spoken clearly. Are we acting on what we have heard?

Father, help us to build wisely and well.  Help us to stand strong when difficulties come so that we can help those who have built poorly. Amen

About My Father’s Business:

A Lenten Devotional Guide
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2010
by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator