In late 2010, a commercial airline copilot had one major oops moment. While the lead pilot had left the cockpit for a break, his clumsy crewman knocked the control column forward as he attempted to adjust his seat. The jet, which had been cruising at 37,000 feet, instantly nosedived more than 2,000 feet. The pilot managed to return to the cockpit, but then faced a struggle with the panicked copilot who wouldn’t release his grip on the controls. The tug-of-war resulted in the plane plummeting another 5,000 feet. Finally, the captain returned the aircraft to normal flight mode, much to the relief of 113 terrified passengers!
Like that foolish flyer, we can also behave in ways that place us—and others—in danger. Jesus described a “foolish” builder in Matthew 7. Instead of constructing his home on “bedrock” (Matthew 7:25), the guy chose a fool-friendly foundation—sand. Not a good idea, for when the wind and rains of a fierce storm hit the house, it “[collapsed] with a mighty crash” (Matthew 7:27).
This teaching, the finale of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, called people to leave their foolish ways behind and to follow Him. He knew that the “storm,” a picture of God’s future judgment (Jeremiah 23:19; Ezekiel 1:4), would lay bare each person’s spiritual state. It would reveal whether or not they had chosen to follow God (Matthew 6:33), submit to His will (Matthew 7:21), and walk with Him in obedience and righteousness (Matthew 7:22-23).
You and I might claim to be believers in Jesus—to have our lives built on the Rock. But if our words and actions deny what He teaches as we foolishly push forward into sin and reckless living, we’re headed for a major spiritual nosedive.
Release your grip on foolish ways and turn over the control of your life to Jesus, and begin soaring with Him!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Ephesians 2:1-22
More:
Read Proverbs 1:7, 10:23, 18:2, 29:11. Note the way a fool acts and reacts.
Next:
What will keep you from acting foolishly? Why is it essential that believers in Jesus follow Him in obedience?
jstabel on November 30, 2011 at 12:12 am
We always find good “excuse” why we did not obey a particular command and then continue in it based on our excuse forgetting that the nosediving is continous until we decide to let go.
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tom felten on November 30, 2011 at 9:05 am
You’re right, jstabel. It’s so easy to compromise and make excuses for our bad behavior . . . for our sin. I’m so glad Jesus has given us an example to follow—obedience based in love for His Father. May our love for God be proven in what we do and say today.
tcarr89 on November 30, 2011 at 12:48 am
LORD, forgive me for my foolish disobedience every day… God, help me to revere You and fear You so I may obey You without fear of consequences from man….. I am out of control, Lord…..
tom felten on November 30, 2011 at 9:08 am
Praying for you, tcarr89—and for all of us! May God fill you will His Holy Spirit. As you yield to the Spirit’s work in your life, His fruit will produce words and actions that are glorifying to God (Galatians 5:22-23).
genegoh89 on November 30, 2011 at 9:35 am
Thank you Mr. Tom Felten for this devotion. I’ve been hearing a lot of sermons and reading a few books recently and EVERYTHING (including your devotion today) seems to draw to one conclusion and one conclusion only – LIVE FOR CHRIST ALONE.
I quote a speaker who once said, “We live as if CHRIST IS NOT COMING BACK”, and a book that says “We live as if GOD EXIST TO SERVE US”. That’s quite a dangerous Christian life to live.
Thank you SO MUCH for this timely reminder, because all Christians need it. God bless.
tom felten on November 30, 2011 at 10:38 am
Amen, geneoh89, “Live for Christ alone!”
eppistle on November 30, 2011 at 9:42 am
Is living for the Lord easy? On one hand, how easy is it to deny themselves, pick up their crosses and follow Jesus (Matthew 16:24)? But on the other hand, Jesus said “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
So how do you solve this paradox? Maybe in the short run, it’s easier to live the self-willed life – the path of least resistance. But in the long run, to surrender our lives to Jesus saves us from a lot of heartache and having to fix things. Though it’s much easier to build on sand than on rock, it’s much easier not to have to pick up the pieces after a big oops (Matthew 7:24-27). An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
What areas in our lives do we need to put under the discipline and discipleship of the Lord now so that we can prevent the hard truth in the future?
tom felten on November 30, 2011 at 10:42 am
Love your contrast, eppistle: self-will vs. surrender. Whether we’re battling an addiction or temptation, surrender out of love for God is always stronger than what we can attempt to do out of self-will. Thanks for your insights!
roxanne robbins on November 30, 2011 at 10:31 am
I’m so glad I wasn’t on that flight!
tom felten on November 30, 2011 at 10:42 am
Me too. Talk about terrifying!
Alvin on November 30, 2011 at 11:27 am
haha…. I completely agree with you Tom.. thanks for that. As I always say, things of repentance/surrender are easier said than done, I still am very hopeful that one day, things will get better…. that all my tears of plea and crying out for help,mercy and forgiveness will all be fulfilled.. We all have many issues, and the best thing I know right now is that God is dealing with me to transcend in these situations, not my will, but His’.. Godbless you all, ODJ readers.
tom felten on November 30, 2011 at 4:50 pm
Good thoughts, Alvin. As Jesus said, “Not My will, but yours be done!” We can trust God with our present and our future.
Alvin on November 30, 2011 at 11:41 am
learn the lessons. Use it as you trudge the journey.. and the journey? – winning souls for Christ!
winn collier on December 1, 2011 at 10:02 pm
amazing how our foolishness, at the moments, seems to make all the sense in the world.