Where Is Your House Built?
Where is your house built? Jesus teaches us to build our lives on the solid, unshakable foundation of His truth. Where are you building your spiritual house?
I’ve lived in four houses as an adult. Bobby and I built the middle two, and we loved every part of it! Watching a plan take shape into something real is so satisfying. Jesus talked about building too—and it’s no surprise, because while He was on earth, He was a builder.
The Carpenter
I love the idea that Jesus worked as a builder! The Bible tells us He was a carpenter (Mark 6: 2–3).
The word translated as carpenter is the Greek word tekton, which means builder or craftsman—someone who works with any material, not just wood.
Because of our Western mindset, we usually picture Jesus working with wood. But if you’ve ever visited Israel, you know it’s filled with rocks and boulders. Wood is not nearly as common.
While studying the book of Mark, I came across this beautiful passage…
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like:
He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.
But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”
—Luke 6:46–49
Jesus often used familiar things from everyday life to teach spiritual truths. I love picturing Him using the rocks and stones so common in Israel to explain what it means to build a life that lasts. And even though He was Emmanuel, God with us, He also had practical experience as a builder. I wonder how many solid foundations He laid with His own hands?
The Parable
The verses above are a parable—a simple, earthly story with deep spiritual truth.
In this story, Jesus compares Himself to a rock. This idea appears throughout the Bible. Why a rock? The people of ancient Israel understood what rocks symbolized. They were solid, dependable, and unmovable. They were the same in the past as they would be in the future.
Jesus Our Rock
Rocks are strong and steady and don’t move easily. Jesus is like that—unchanging and trustworthy.
Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. In a world that shifts and sways, Jesus stays the same. He is the only foundation worth building a life on.
Jesus asks a powerful question in this parable:
An Important Question
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?”
The word Lord is the Greek word kurios. It means master or owner—someone with full authority.
Jesus’ disciples knew He was the Messiah. They called Him Lord. But He asked them: If I really am your Lord, why don’t you obey Me?
The Faithful, Obedient Life
Then Jesus gives them a picture of a faithful, obedient life:
“Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like.”
—Luke 6:47
This verse holds three things: Come, Hear, and Do. That’s what it takes to build an unshakable life of faith. You can’t obey God if you don’t know what He says. And you can’t hear Him if you don’t come to Him regularly and build a relationship with Him.
When my children were little, I often told them, “How can you serve a God you don’t know?” That became an important truth in their lives.
To come to Jesus is to know Him. And you can’t know Him without spending time with Him. That’s why coming to Jesus every day matters. Study His Word. Learn it. Let it change you.
What does it mean to hear His words? In Greek, the word for hear means far more than just listening. It means to take it in, understand it, and then obey it. Hearing is a doing word.
Think of it this way: abide and obey. When you abide, when you’re close and connected, you want to do what Jesus says. Obedience flows from knowing and loving Him. If you know Jesus and hear His Word, obedience is the only right response.
Our Choices
We have two clear choices. We can live our lives with unshaken belief, or we can be worried, anxious, and uncertain. It’s all about your foundation, my friend!
You are building your spiritual house every day! Where have you decided to build it?
Related Post
What Are Standing Stones in the Bible
Knowing God Through the Book of Psalms
Hide God’s Word in Your Heart: A Simple Habit for a Peaceful Life
Happy Sunday, friend…
A challenging and well timed teaching Yvonne . I have been building my house upon the Rock of my Salvation for nearly 40 years . Those foundations are certainly being put to the test in these times . Without Him , I know the storms we are all facing now would have overwhelmed and swamped me . Praise God , that Jesus is my strength and solid foundation who cannot be shaken .
Amen, Angie! It is most comforting to know Truth
I just love your blog. I love this Sunday blog especially. I am reading the Bible through—up to Chap. 28 in Isaiah. I really need to know how to study the Bible. Any tips will be appreciated. Thanks.
If you want to learn how to study the bible I highly suggest this book:https://amzn.to/3sZkEmS
Amen.
Beautiful! I always look
Forward to your Sunday message. May God richly bless you!
Thank you Stella, you too!
Yvonne, I look so forward to your Sunday posts where you show me so much! I don’t know how to look up the original meanings like you do. That makes everything so much deeper and richer in meaning! Could you do a future post that you show us what tools we can use to find these original meanings to help deepen our home Bible studies?
Looking forward to meeting you one day in Heaven,
Glenda
I use biblehub.com and when I find a verse I’m looking up I click the Greek or Hebrew button. I’ve used a Greek and Hebrew concordance and word study for decades. Thank goodness for technology!
Good word, Yvonne! Appreciate your commitment to speak truth!
So spot on with what THE LORD was speaking to me this morning. So so good! Thank YOU!!!
Amen! Thank you.
I alway enjoy your Sunday messages. I feel so blessed to be able to worship Christ and have that personal relationship with him everyday. Thanks
Amen! Have a wonderful week!
So inspiring! Our faith is tested every day, it is good to know that someone is looking constantly for us and has our back even when we don’t deserve it. Good post Yvonne, thanks for sharing. Blessings from above.
You are so welcome
Yvonne, I have been a Christian since I was young and raised in church. I have just begun to “Study” the Bible in the past few years. When I read your Sunday posts, I love when you give the original meanings of words.
What do you use to find the meaning in the original Greek or Hebrew?
I use Bible Hub an online resource. You can go here: https://biblehub.com/ At the very top of the page you can click on a bible verse you want and once the page comes up under the blue line that has all the versions of the bible you will see words in bold print. One of those words is LEXICO so click on that. You will see Greek or Hebrew translations for the verse. Hope this helps.
Hi Yvonne.
I enjoy reading your blog and your Sunday message.
Thank You
Nancy
God bless you, Nancy!
I look forward to your Sunday posts and you never disappoint. As I read about Jesus being a builder, and how solid those foundations were, I wonder if there are still houses that his hands built remaining in Israel?
Love your blog.
What a wonderful thought! There is a house He built that is over 2,000 years old, His church!
Yvonne,
Hello, I so enjoy your blog- the best! I, too, especially look forward to your Sunday Edition. I am for the first time beginning to read the bible. I have started with the bible given to us from the VFW when my Dad passed over 50 years ago. What version do you suggest I purchase for “easier” reading?
Thank you for helping me open my eyes in so many ways! These last 12 years have really been a storm.
God Bless you,
Linda
Linda, there is no best version of the Bible. It’s what is best for you. I like to read the Amplified Bible because it gives the Greek and Hebrew definitions of important words. And I study with the New American Standard Version because it is closest to the King James which is closest to the original Greek and Hebrew when I study.
Thank you for sharing your Sunday devotions. I receive a special blessing each time I read them.
Thank you for sharing God’s Words.p
After reading your post today I read another blogger who referred her readers to yesterdays post from the Pinecones and Acorns blog. A section of the Pinecones and Acorns blog was about internet ‘influencers’. She wrote: “…If you are an influencer, no matter how big or small you have a responsibility to the people who follow you and the people who see your content. As an influencer your words and images represent what you believe, wear, buy, sell and how you live. Or so we are led to believe. People young and old soak up this information and purchase products based upon your recommendations, they eat certain food, listen to podcasts, read books, etc, all because you mentioned it.”
Yvonne, you certainly take your responsibility seriously. I pray that all those “people young and old [who] soak up this information” find their way here to your blog so they will be influenced by what you believe, how you live and The Book you always recommend. Thank you for posting what will benefit us not only in this life but for eternity.
God bless you Patty! Thank you!
A friend lost his 52 year old son to cancer this past week. His son was a full-time youth/music minister and had been a bi-vocational music minister since he was 20 years old. He touched so many lives and raised his children and built their home to love the Lord. My heart breaks for them in his home going but know God’s ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts.
So sorry for your loss, Judy
I enjoy all of your posts, but I love what you share every Sunday.
Thank you so much. What a sweet comment Pam.
Thank you for your reminding us how Jesus says we should live and for the salvation He so freely gave each of us who have chosen to accept and follow Him. Our pastor is preaching through the book of Mark this year to help us learn to live and love like Jesus. He is battling cancer and I would appreciate anyone who would lift him up I’m prayer!
I just prayed. God bless and heal your pastor.
That was a very powerful message. Thank you!
You are welcome, Carla! God bless you!
Beautifully written. Wise words! So thankful I have Jesus! And Jesus has me! I enjoy your blog posts! ❤️❤️
BoBo Rinks
Thanks BoBo! What would we ever do without our Lord?