zoning violation
"Anyone who hears My words but does not put them into practice is like the foolish man who built his house on sandy ground." —Matthew 7:26
No one sets out to build without having blueprints, without having a plan. The architect sets his plan and makes it as hard as rock (Mt 7:25). Foolish individuals build without a plan; eventually their buildings will crumble (Mt 7:27). Jesus calls us to be "wise as serpents" in following Him (see Mt 10:16, RSV-CE). He asks us to plan for the future.
In our planning, it is not enough to say "Lord, Lord" (Mt 7:21). It is necessary to put the Lord's words into practice (Mt 7:24). We must be doers of the Word and not hearers only (Jas 1:22). Jesus approved the one who did His Father's will, not the one who said 'Yes' to God, but failed to do His will (Mt 21:28-32). To do the Word of God means to live it, to plan for the future, to avoid zoning violations.
Jesus is the true Foundation upon which the Church is founded (1 Cor 3:10-11). Our Christian lives have to be built and molded into Him. We must lovingly seek and obey His Word, for reverential acceptance of Jesus Christ by word and deed is the summit of Christian wisdom (Prv 1:7).
Prayer: Lord, assist me to be a doer of the Word and not merely a listener.
Promise: "Happy are they who observe what is right, who do always what is just." —Ps 106:3
Praise: St. Cyril taught truth and fought error as bishop and doctor of the Church. He had to fight some of his own personality extremes as well as the heresies of his day to further God's Kingdom.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our leaflet Job Performance for Jesus or our audio AV 43-3 or video V-43.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, January 18, 2013
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