Come, Listen, Obey

"I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built."  Jesus

"The Solid Rock" is one of the most well-known songs in Christian history.  I have memories of being a little boy, my dad standing in front of church leading us in these words:  "On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand." Somehow, I always thought that to stand on Christ meant to believe in him. I needed merely to agree with his teaching and I was set.  Even just singing the song, "The Solid Rock," somehow made me feel more secure in Christ.  But more I studied what Jesus teaches regarding a life built on the rock, the more I realized that it has nothing to do with what I sing or say, but everything to do with what I hear and obey.  To be fair, Jesus assumes belief in him, for no man can obey Jesus if he doesn't first believe Jesus is telling the truth. But after belief, the three criteria Jesus poses in this passage have little to do with some past prayer, or decision to stand on Christ. According to Jesus, the foundation of our faith is not laid when we believe in him. That may be when we get the tools to start laying, but the laying of a good foundation is a lifelong journey, not of reciting creeds or singing songs, but of hearing Christ and following him. 

"I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it."  First, we must come to Jesus. It would be easy to emphasize only obedience, but an Army private has nothing to obey if he hasn't first heard the order from his commanding officer.  There is no obedience pleasing to God which doesn't first find it's root in the presence of Christ and a fresh hearing of his Word. Once we come, we must listen.  The best definition of prayer I've ever heard is "Attentiveness to God."  How often do we approach prayer only expecting God to be attentive to us?  But we pray primarily to hear and understand Jesus, the living and active Word of God. Finally, once we have sat at his feet and attuned our ears to hear what he says, we journal about it and move on. Wrong.  We must then, by the power of God's Spirit, do what Jesus says to do.  Jesus promised his disciples, "I will be with you, even to the end..." So be encouraged. God is not a commander who sends us away to fulfill his orders but a benevolent Lord who walks with us in order to achieve his purposes in and through us. Yes, believer, be encouraged. But disciple, be disciplined.  God wants you to have a solid foundation, but the only way to build that foundation is have a regular, persistent habit of coming to Jesus, listening to what he says, and then obeying his teaching.

Run to Win

“In a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize. Run in such a way as to get the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:24

It’s been fun seeing the Olympics every night at our house, and as we were watching Michael Phelps win his 19th Olympic medal, I was reminded of the Biblical mandate to approach our Christian walk in the same way an Olympian trains to win a gold medal. The effort, determination and singleness of purpose displayed by these athletes is what enables them to compete... and win! According to scripture, we are to demonstrate this very same effort and focus. Consider the following:

·   Let us press on to know the Lord (Hosea 6:3)

·   Let us throw off every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1)

·   Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge (2 Peter 1:5)

·   Train yourself for godliness (1 Timothy 4:7)

·   Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14)

Paul’s exhortation to “run in such a way as to get the prize” is a very literal reminder that some people will win the prize and see Christ, and others will not.  The difference is determination.  You might say here, “But what about grace?” But as Dallas Willard once said, “Grace is not opposed to effort but to earning.” We’re not earning God’s favor, but we are told to make every effort, to press on, to run the race in order to win the prize - and what is that prize? It’s none other than knowing Christ Jesus and being found in him! (Phil 3:8)

God wouldn't employ the analogy of an athlete over and over throughout scripture if it weren’t for a reason. See, he knows that the Christian life can be difficult, so he reminds us to press on.  He understands our tendency to coast on past successes, so he says to make every effort to add to our faith.  He’s aware that we would rather relax and eat junk food (so to speak) than to exercise ourselves and abstain from the caustic influences of this world, so he exhorts us to train ourselves for godliness and cast off every weight and sin that hinders us from running a good race. 

Friend, what area of your life right now could benefit from more effort or self-control? Cry out to God for his grace, which rather than replacing your effort, will actually bolster your effort and bring about real, lasting reward. 

“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever!” (1 Corinthians 9:25)