Today’s Devotion
Topic: Practising The Word
(Self Assessment 123)
Background: Before and after each sermon, we are usually made to pray to be doers of the Word and not just hearers. Yet some of us immediately forget every detail of the Word just hours after hearing it.
This indicates the possibility that we either have stony hearts or ‘pathway hearts’, so the Word gets picked up by birds. It could also be that we have ‘thorny hearts’ full of weeds which choke the Word till it has no relevance to us anymore. (read Matthew 13: 1- 23).
Which ever way we look at it, one thing is for sure: most of us are not living according to the Word. Yes we pray, read or listen to the word and even try to teach it BUT ARE NOT DOERS OF IT. Today’s study seeks to literally demonstrate the benefits of practicing the Word so that we are encouraged to do what the Word says at the times.
Text: Luke 6: 46- 49
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” Amen
Questions:
i. Under what circumstances is it possible for someone to call ‘Lord, lord’ and still not do what the Lord says? In other words, why will anyone call Him Lord if they are not willing to submit to what He says?
ii. Describe how the man who hears the Word and obeys it is like? Give practical examples.
iii. Also, describe the situation for anyone who hears the Word and DOES NOT put it into practice.
iv. Now, from your basic knowledge of building, and from reading verses 48- 49 again, kindly attempt the following:
a) In building, what is a foundation?
b) What are the benefits of building on a foundation, and the disadvantages of not doing so?
c) What is the relevance of a deep foundation which is also laid on a rock?
d) Why do you think the hearing and doing of God’s Word is being likened to building in the first place?
e) In your opinion, how does obeying God’s Word illustrate “digging deep and laying a foundation on the rock”, while ‘non-practice’ of the Word reflects “building without foundation”?
f) According to the passage above, the torrent struck both builders:
1) Does it mean trials are inevitable whether we obey God’s Word or not?
2) What happened to the structure of each of the builders, and what lesson can we learn from that?
v. Practically, how can we become doers of God’s Word and not just hearers? Explain with scriptures.
Kindly reply us on this same social media platform. We learn so much from the answers you share with us.
