DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT THURSDAY - WHY CALL ME LORD? Part 3.

A.W. Tozer says that people who are crucified with Christ have three distinct marks:
1. They are facing only one direction. 2. They can never turn back. 3. They no longer have plans of their own. - Tim Hansel.

"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great." - Luke 6:46-49.

Yesterday in Part 2, we looked at the wise man who does 3 things in v47; He comes to Jesus, hears his words, and puts them into practice! If we are to call Jesus Lord, then we must put these three principles into action! He is our Lord! He has all power and authority over us! Today we study why...

THE FOOLISH MAN BUILT UPON THE SAND

Notice The Difference Between The Wise And The Foolish. The wise man... Came to Jesus... Heard His teachings... Practiced them! The foolish man came, heard, but did not practice! That's the difference, the emphasis is obedience... For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. - Rom 5:19.

The foolish man reacts by ignoring the teachings, or gets offended, or justifies himself by comparing himself to a neighbour, or finds fault with the preacher or the church, or says, "No one came to see me so I'm not going to obey Jesus," or "No one else does their part so I'm not going to do mine." I would suppose every congregation has some of the wise and some of the foolish. There are those who hear and respond with obedience. There are others who hear and don't respond at all.

Shortly after joining the Navy, the new recruit asked his officer for a pass so he could attend a wedding. The officer gave him the pass, but informed the young man he would have to be back by 7 p.m. Sunday. "You don't understand, sir," said the recruit. "I'm in the wedding." "No, you don't understand," the officer shot back. "You're in the Navy!" - Source Unknown.

This Is The Trouble With The Foolish Man
His choice was the path of disobedience, and suffered the consequences. We need to choose an obedient path, a destiny! We need to look beyond the moment and see further down the road, what our decision, or course of action will bring. If we choose to ignore Jesus' teachings today, we are the foolish man and we'll meet the same end.

It's true he heard the teachings. That's better than some who allow all kinds of excuses to keep them away, but he didn't practice the teachings. He lived his life as he wanted, he refused to yield 100% to Jesus, and so he was building on sand, when the rains came, “immediately” his house fell.

Do we remember the story of the rich young ruler? He came to Jesus asking "What must I do to be saved?" So far he's on the right track, he came to Jesus who said, "Sell your riches, take up the cross and follow me." He came to Jesus, he heard the teaching, but he went away angry because he refused to obey, he was a hearer, not a doer. He probably enjoyed his riches the rest of his life. But unless he was converted at some later time, he won't be in the kingdom. What a foolish man! What a poor man!

Bruce Larson, in his book Believe and Belong, tells how he helped people struggling to surrender their lives to Christ:

"For many years I worked in New York City and counseled at my office any number of people who were wrestling with this yes-or-no decision. Often I would suggest they walk with me from my office down to the RCA Building on Fifth Avenue. In the entrance of that building is a gigantic statue of Atlas, a beautifully proportioned man who, with all his muscles straining, is holding the world upon his shoulders. There he is, the most powerfully built man in the world, and he can barely stand up under this burden. 'Now that's one way to live,' I would point out to my companion, 'trying to carry the world on your shoulders. But now come across the street with me.'

"On the other side of Fifth Avenue is Saint Patrick's Cathedral, and there behind the high altar is a little shrine of the boy Jesus, perhaps eight or nine years old, and with no effort he is holding the world in one hand. My point was illustrated graphically. "We have a choice. We can carry the world on our shoulders, or we can say, 'I give up, Lord; here's my life. I give you my world, the whole world.'" - Richard A. Hasler.

It is so foolish to hear the teachings but not do them. Obedience is the key between the wise and foolish.

Loving Father, Help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to make Jesus Lord of all my life, family, time, finances, and employment. Help me to put into action what I believe and say, that my family, friends, neighbours, workmate and classmates alike, may know, that Jesus Christ is my Lord, and Lord of all! In His wonderful name I pray, Amen!

GBYAY