Building Your House

 

   

Matt 7:24-27

 

"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:  25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

26 "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:  27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

NKJV

 

The statistics are staggering. I read an article today that stated that 50% of all first-time marriages, 67% of second marriages, and 74% of third marriages end in divorce.   This provides a bleak view for the future of most of our homes.  Perhaps that is why fewer people are choosing marriage and opting instead, for live-in relationships.  But does that really prevent the perceived threat of being hurt and rejected? Not at all.  Rather, it will likely result in shattered people with even more baggage to bring into marriage.  With those odds, what can we do to protect our homes?

For the remainder of this devotional, please visit me at http://lacedwithgrace.com, where I will be spending the day.

Home Makeover; Heart Edition

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”  Psalm 51:10

 

A pure heart.  What a tall order.  In the heart, lust is conceived.  In the heart, hate is conceived.  In the heart, murder is conceived.  The heart is a virtual hot bed of negative emotions.  But this does not have to be.

Jesus desires to take up residence within our hearts.  He wants to come in and do a major overhaul.  He wants to wash away all that is evil. All that defiles.  He desires to restructure our heart so that it becomes a dwelling where He, in His holiness, can dwell.

If we invite Jesus to come in and live in our hearts, it is our duty to allow him full access.  We must allow him to furnish our heart for His comfort.  We will have to take the lustful pictures off of the wall.  We will have to take the violent pictures off of the wall.  We will have to remove lying, slander and gossip. 

Jesus cannot be comfortable around sin.  It is our duty to allow Him to make any renovations that is required.  Becoming sanctified, that is what the Bible calls it.  Sanctification is a cooperative effort between us and God.  First, we ask Him to save and cleanse us, and He credits us as righteous- because of what Jesus has done for us.  But after that, we have a duty work in conjunction with the Holy Spirit to let go of the evil tendencies in our hearts and to be transformed into His likeness.

Dear Lord, create a pure heart in me. Show me the changes that you require of me and give me the grace to obey.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sherri

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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