Morning Devotionals

by Don Emmitte

 

March 4th, 2008

 

“March Winds”

Jesus said, "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. 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. 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. 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 NIV).

It's March and at least in our area it has come “roaring in like a lion.” The temperature has been relatively mild during the day, but the winds have been unusually brisk for this part of the state. As I was walking our dog yesterday, with the wind blowing in my face, I was taken back to our reading today. It is the story of the contrast between a wise and foolish builder. The wise builder prepared for the storms and was rewarded with a stable home to withstand the storm. The foolish man did not build his house with a proper foundation. When the same storms came to his home, it was destroyed.

Inevitably we must ask, “What is this proper foundation?” Jesus says it is hearing the words he has spoken and putting those words into action. In my own life I have found it very easy to “hear” the words of Christ. It is another matter entirely to put them into action. Obedience is always like that!

Perhaps one of the most successful quarterbacks of the Dallas Cowboys was Roger Staubach. After leading his team to the World Championship in '71, he admitted that his position as a quarterback who didn't call his own signals was a source of trial for him. Coach Landry sent in every play. He told Roger when to pass, when to run and only in emergency situations could he change the play (and he had better be right!). Even though Roger considered coach Landry to have a "genius mind" when it came to football strategy, pride said that he should be able to run his own team. Roger later said, "I faced up to the issue of obedience. Once I learned to obey there was harmony, fulfillment, and victory."

That's the real test for us today. God has given us the choice to call our own plays or run the ones he sends in. In my experience, his have always been better than mine! What's your foundation like today?