How to Stand When Everything Around You Falls

"If you keep My commands,
you will remain in My love?"

Everyone wants a life
that can stand in the storm.
Jesus tells us
that the life that stands
is the life that remains
in His love.

And the way we remain
in His love
is by keeping
His commands.

But we cannot keep
what we do not know.
So where do we find
the commands of Jesus
so we can keep them?

You may not know this about Jesus-
He placed all His commands
in His words.

He said the man
who hears His words
and obeys them
is like a builder
who dug down deep
until he reached the rock-
the solid base
beneath the shifting soil-
and built his house
on that rock.
(Mt 7:24-25; Lk 6:47-48)

And when the storm hit,
his house stood.

Why?
Because it was built
on the rock.

I used to think
the rock was His teaching.
But that's not
what Jesus said.

The rock
is not merely hearing His words.
The rock
is not merely knowing His words.
The rock
is knowing
and obeying
His words.

The man dug down deep
to reach the rock.
And once he found it,
he built his life
on obedience
to what Jesus said.

Digging deep
requires effort.
It is hard work
made easier
when done with others.

But the reward
is like finding gold nuggets-
truths Jesus taught
that can be studied
and obeyed.

"I have treasured Your word
in my heart
that I may not sin against You."
(Ps 119:11)

And the outcome
is a life of joy
and stability
that can withstand
the storms of life
that will surely hit.

His love
gives me the desire to obey.
His Spirit
gives me the power to obey.
And His words
give me the foundation
that can withstand
any storm.

Where am I trying
to obey Jesus
without first
hearing Him?

WHAT THIS MEANS TO ME
I cannot obey
what I do not know.
I must return
to His words
so His words
can shape my life.

Father,
teach me to hear
the words of Jesus
and to obey them.
Let His voice
be the foundation
beneath every choice
I make.
In Jesus' name, Amen.