Resilient Faith 坚定信心
Dexu Xia
Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. Matthew 7:26
Towering dunes along the north shore of Silver Lake put nearby homes at risk of sinking into shifting sands. Though residents tried moving mounds of sand in efforts to protect their homes, they watched helplessly as well-built houses were buried right before their eyes. As a local sheriff oversaw the cleanup of a recently destroyed cottage, he affirmed the process couldn’t be prevented. No matter how hard homeowners tried to avoid the dangers of these unsteady embankments, the dunes simply couldn’t provide a strong foundational support.
Jesus knew the futility of building a house on sand. After warning the disciples to be wary of false prophets, He assured them that loving obedience demonstrates wisdom (Matthew 7:15–23). He said that everyone who hears His words and “puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (v. 24). The one who hears God’s words and chooses not to put them into practice, however, is “like a foolish man who built his house on sand” (v. 26).
When circumstances feel like shifting sands burying us under the weight of affliction or worries, we can place our hope in Christ, our Rock. He will help us develop resilient faith built on the unshakable foundation of His unchanging character.
How does obedience demonstrate your trust in God? In what areas of your life are you standing on the shifting sands of disobedience to Him?
Jesus, please help me develop resilient faith. Empower me to demonstrate my trust through loving obedience to You.
凡听见我这话不去行的，好比一个无知的人，把房子盖在沙土上。—马太福音7章26节
美国密西根州的银湖滩沙丘是个冲沙胜地，但北岸高耸的沙丘却使附近的房屋面临被流沙淹没的危险。尽管居民们试着将部分沙堆运走以保护自己的住家，但他们还是无助地眼看着自己精心建造的房屋被沙掩埋。在监督最近刚被摧毁的小屋清理工作时，当地的一名警长确认了这是不可避免的结果。不管居民们多么努力，但这些可以防堵潮水入侵的沙丘极不稳定，其所带来的危害是不可避免的，因为它没有稳固的地基。
耶稣知道在沙土上盖房子是白费工夫的。在警告门徒提防假先知后，耶稣确切地告诉他们，出于爱的顺服能显出智慧（马太福音7章15-23节）。祂说凡听见祂的话“就去行的，好比一个聪明人，把房子盖在磐石上”（24节）。然而听见上帝的话语却选择不去行的，“好比一个无知的人，把房子盖在沙土上”（26节）。
当环境像流沙一样，将我们掩埋在痛苦或忧虑之中时，我们可以把盼望放在我们的磐石──基督的身上。祂会帮助我们将坚定的信心，建立在祂永不改变的特质，这永不摇动的基石之上。
你对上帝的顺服如何表明对祂的信靠？
在你的生活中，
有哪些方面你犹如站在流沙上，
不愿意顺服上帝？
耶稣，帮助我建立坚定的信心。
求祢赐我力量，藉着爱的顺服来表明我对祢的信靠。