Luke 6:46-49 says “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? ⁴⁷ Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: ⁴⁸ He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. ⁴⁹ But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”

            It would behoove us to carefully consider this verse and the ramifications of what it teaches. In verse 46, it states “the things which I say.” The Greek word used here means to teach, to command, or to affirm. This entails all that the Bible teaches. If we truly wish to serve Christ, we will keep His commandments. John 14:15 says ¹⁵"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” Is any command more important than the others? Is hearing, believing, repenting, and confessing more important than baptism? Is baptism more important than any of the other commandments? No. Everything that God has commanded of us through His word is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.

            It is sad, but we often see today in denominations and in so called “churches of Christ”, that they are drifting further and further from the Truth. Why? The cause of this is that today’s society wants a religion of convenience. In 1 Kings 12, we have an example of Jeroboam seeking a religion of convenience. Jeroboam made two golden calves and put one in Dan (north) and one in Bethel (south). He feared the people would return to King Rehoboam, if they worshiped in Jerusalem.  Jeroboam catered to the people’s desire for convenience. We know that the Bible teaches that this became sin in God’s eyes. Jeroboam did not hold God’s word in reverence. Today when one changes the prescribed manner in which to worship God and do His work in order to be comforted by a ‘more meaningful and spiritual’ experience, he is not that far removed from walking in the steps of Jeroboam. Jeroboam changed:

1.) The place of worship

2.) The object of worship

3.) The requirements for priesthood

These changes caused Isreal to sin. We must ask ourselves today, are we striving to do God’s will or our own? Whom are we striving to please? We cannot waiver on eternal matters to “get the numbers”. Let us always consider whom we are trying to please in making decisions concerning spiritual matters. Ephesians 5:1-21 “¹Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;  ²and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. ³But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; ⁴and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. ⁵For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

 ⁶Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. ⁷Therefore do not be partakers with them; ⁸for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light ⁹(for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), ¹⁰trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. ¹¹Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; ¹²for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. ¹³But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. ¹⁴For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you." ¹⁵Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, ¹⁶making the most of your time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; ²⁰always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; ²¹and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.”

Jeremy Harrell