Matthew 7:21-28 is the conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount.  This sermon has the same structure as an ancient political speech, which means Jesus is trying to convince his hearers to make a change in their thinking, and consequently in their actions.  I think anyone who has journeyed through the Sermon on the Mount with us would agree that we have been challenged in this way.

The sermon concludes with two images.  The first is an image of the day of judgment (vv. 21-23), when Jesus says that some who have proclaimed His name will not be accepted into His kingdom.  These people did great works in Jesus' name, but did not do the "will of my Father in heaven."

So what is the "will of God" in this passage?  I believe that God's will, as described in this sermon, is that we go beyond our legalistic outlook on life--go beyond trying to find the minimum requirements for pleasing God, go beyond a checklist mentality to faith--to the much more difficult, yet much more rewarding, life in covenant with God through His grace.  We must go beyond doing things for God to being someone for God.

This is a very hard teaching for me.  I am constantly doing things, and outside of work, they are mostly church-related--whether with this congregation or the city-wide church.  I have to remind myself that this activity is rubbish if I am not also living for Him.

The second image is the story of the wise and foolish builders (vv. 24-27).  This story reminds me of the El Nino years of the late 1990's in northern California, where we lived at the time.  Almost every evening of the rainy season, newscasters mentioned more houses that had collapsed from the sides of the hills on which they were perched.  These houses were expensive and very nice in dry weather, but their foundations proved to be inadequate in the incessant rains of that time.  Jesus says that a good foundation involves both learning and discipleship--hearing the words of God and acting upon them.

As you live your life this week, consider and pray about the strength of your foundation.  Where does it need to be shored up?  What can we in the Growth ministry do to help?  And what can the city-wide Church of Spokane do to address the foundation problem in our community?