“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” – Luke 6:46-49 NIV
When we have conversations with close friends, mentors, teachers, or family members, their words may affect us. They could be either of giving encouragements or giving wise teachings and both of them are important to people’s lives. When we are feeling down or depressed, we may need encouragements. For example, one of my friends supported me to continue my studies when I was almost about to give up. Of course, there are other times for encouragements, to build someone up, for instance. The most encouragement my mentor gave me was that I am a 120% functioning person, even though I have got two disabilities. When we are living in the wrong ways or don’t know how to live a life properly, we may need wise teachings. Through ‘Te Ao Māori – The Māori World and Customs’ course, I have learned that families are important to our lives as I was studying genealogies. What my father taught me was that I need to become an independent person, so he taught me how to do things properly until I came to New Zealand. Therefore, conversations are like a foundation in getting more aware of ourselves.
Likewise, the Bible is there to teach us how to live properly as believers in Jesus Christ. Apostle Paul proclaims in Romans 1:16-17 that the Good News about Him is salvation and it is an evidence of God’s power working within those who believe in Him. Keeping faith is how to live righteously in God’s sight. Paul also talks about this and the supremacy of Christ in Colossians 1:15-23. Nevertheless, we may think the Bible is too burdensome as there are limitations that people can do. According to one commentary on Luke, Heinrich Bullinger states that the word of God is not just about knowledge to share it among communities. Of course, we have to share the word among them. However, the word of God requires actions to be involved as well. Therefore, getting the word of God into our brains is not enough. If there are no actions involved, we won’t be living as believers in Christ effectively.
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. (James 1:22-25)
Since the followers of Christ belong to the kingdom of heaven and are called to set apart from the world according to 1 Peter 1:13-17, we probably have to consider the world as a testing place for children of God in spite of there is forgiveness of God. In my point of view, many people are watching believers how they live differently and people are pondering why Christianity is important. To put these simply, believers are called to be witnesses of Jesus Christ in the world (Matthew 5:14-16; 1 Peter 2:9-10).
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