I’ve heard a lot of good Christian teaching and solid sermons over the years. I attended a number of Bible colleges and worked in ministry.
While taking Ann to work this morning, I was listening to a really great, and challenging talk by a radio minister. It dawned on me that unless I put what he’s saying into practice, what he’s saying does me no good.
God wanted Annie and I to put His Word into practice in our everyday lives. He would see to it that that happened. We’re so thankful for His faithfulness to bring that about.
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Matthew 7:24-27
Years ago, one of my co-workers (my manager) asked me, “Are you from here (Southern California)?” Ever had someone ask you that? I could tell he was asking me that question because I didn’t seem “normal” to him. I actually told him I needed Jesus and that I could not live apart from Him. Don’t know what he thought of that, but he appeared to respect my reply. A couple of years later, my manager was being threatened with losing his job at the company and I was the first person he came to about it. He was pretty upset and I tried to calm him down the best I could…
While growing up, very few homes on my street had families who didn’t attend the church of their choice each week. As a result, life was totally different from today.
The New Normal – Ann and I wanted so much to have a “normal” life – Good job, nice home, family, dog, neighbors, vacations, and retirement. We found out the new normal Jesus had for us was, “when you seek me with all your heart, you’ll find Me.”
Our normal was going to be knowing Jesus with all our heart. Jesus was not going to let us find any other kind of “normal” because He knew the normal life we wanted could never save us from our destructions, from the plans Satan had for us, and from the “perfect life” we sought, but would never truly be able to find in this world. Because He knows the future, God knew we needed to plant our feet on the rock (Christ) and to leave behind the type of life that tends to build on the sand – on anything other than Christ, alone.
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:11-13
Thanking and praising God in all things,
Mark