“Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things I say? I will show you what someone is like who comes to Me, hears My words, and acts on them: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the river crashed against that house and couldn’t shake it because it was well built. But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The river crashed against it, and immediately it collapsed. And the destruction of that house was great!”
Luke 6:46-49
Then His mother and brothers came to Him, but they could not meet with Him because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see You.” But He relied to them, “My mother and My brothers are those who hear and do the word of God.” Luke 8:19-21
My words…
Praise
Lord, You are a servant God. Jesus, You served others every day of Your earthly sojourn. You provided the perfect example of how to be a do-er of good. The hands that used carpenter tools on blocks of wood and stone were the same hands that healed infirmities and restored hope. How many did You heal? How many did You comfort? How many did You teach? Throngs of hopeless souls crowded You, yet You never turned any away. You must have been exhausted each night when You finally were left alone to pray. Then You rose again the next day only to be thronged again. You didn’t get much you time, did You? I praise you for being the God who makes the most of every moment. You are not an idle God. You are a God of action.
Prayer for me
I call You Lord in my prayers. I proclaim You as Lord of my life. I sing Jesus is Lord. But if I don’t do what You say, I have no right to call you Lord. Those who live under a lordship, act according to the Lord’s words. When I don’t act according to Your word, You have every right to wonder, “Why do you call Me Lord?” I am a reader of scripture and a say-er of prayers, but the more I read, and the more I pray, I learn I am called to do more. You’re not asking me to end wars, eradicate slavery or eliminate poverty. No. You’re asking me to be a person who acts in the face of a single need. I understand it in my mind. I am moved by it in my heart. But my hands hang at my sides. Prick my heart, Lord, to “dirty” my hands doing Your work.
Forgive me
Forgive me for being blind to the needs of those around me as I busy myself attending to my own wishes. I have loads of me time when what I should have is loads of You time. How many times have I asked my child to complete a task only to hear, “Do I have to?” or “Can I do it later?” or my favorite, “Am I getting paid?” Yet, I must admit, You have heard those same responses from me, haven’t You? Forgive me for being an ungrateful child.
Prayer for others
Oh God, I know You bless those who use their hands to bless others: those working with the refugees, the orphans, the prisoners, the unwanted. These do-ers are Your mother and Your brothers. They grow weary at times. They are ridiculed, sometimes by the very people they are helping. But they have built their lives on a foundation. You are that foundation. They stand firm through the punishing winds of self-doubt and persecution. Give them the strength of body and heart to continue in Your work. They have every right to call You Lord.
Thank you
The best part about being Yours is knowing that You hold me dear even when I don’t live as You desire. I disappoint You, yet You continue to bless me, You continue to love me, and my heart is overflowing with thankfulness.
More praise
Lord, You are the secure foundation in a world where everything shifts. And what peace of spirit this secure foundation provides! Glory to God in the heavens! He is not a misty, nebulous god. Oh, no! He is a rock! A solid rock!
