Do Unto Others

Scripture: 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 ... 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. Matthew 7:24,26

Observation: Jesus ends the Sermon on the Mount as a call to action. And that "action" is true action - work and deeds, not just "believe in me" type of action. He says that you need to hear his words and "put them into practice", and anyone who does not put them into practice is a foolish man. This theme is throughout Matthew 7 ... even the metaphors are 100% active tense:

-- Take the plank from your eye.
-- Ask, seek, and knock.
-- Give your children bread, not stones.
-- Enter through the narrow gate.
-- Bear good fruit (which I previously discussed was related to deeds).

Verse 21 is most direct: "Only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven" will enter heaven. NOT those who heal and prophesy and believe, but "who does the will of my father".

Application: What am I DOING today that is the will of God? Not what am I believing for, or praying about, or contemplating in my heart as my love of Jesus ... but DOING!! Of course, in this same section, Jesus tells us what the doing must be:

"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." (verse 12)

I am to do good to others. Where am I going to do that today? Every day?

Prayer: Lord, please heighten my love for others so that I truly seek to serve others every day. I wish to serve you, and to do unto the least of those around me as my service to you. I wish to love, clothe, feed, shelter, and wash others. Please, make my hands your hands, and start by fixing my heart accordingly. Amen.