Hearing His Voice #334

[Jesus said,] “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.”

Luke 6:47-48

We say we want the best life possible. We make plans and decisions that will position us for success in relationships, careers, and finances. And though Jesus tells us that the greatest key to a life well lived is to listen to His words and follow them, we are generally reluctant to follow Him fully. Most people heed His words only to the extent that they make sense.

Yet Jesus spoke a lot of words that don’t make sense on the surface. He gave us authority over the enemy, but we question it because we don’t always seem to experience it. He made extravagant promises about answering our prayers, but we have a hard time believing them and feel compelled to add some fine print that explains them. He gave us difficult commands about turning the other cheek and going the extra mile and avoiding the dangers of wealth. He spoke harshly about our sinful condition and urged us to accept His grace at all costs. He insisted that we love the unlovable and forgive the unforgivable. And He told us to take up a cross and die daily, living sacrificially toward God and others. He urged us to embrace truths that go against our natural inclinations.

Jesus never insisted that His followers understand Him. He insisted that they trust Him. That’s God’s priority for us. Whether we understand or not, following His Word is like building a house on a rock-solid foundation. We can’t lose. There’s nothing more rewarding than embracing His teaching—even when His teaching seems difficult.

Jesus, I have to admit that Your words don’t always make sense to me. And I have to admit that I’m afraid to follow some of them fully. But I do trust You, and I want my life to weather any storm. Anchor me to the rock as I follow You completely.