It was a hot July day in 1981 as I stood in the doorway watching the Tiger basketball camp in the Griswold, IA gym. I had gone to talk to my girlfriend, now my wife of 40 years, as she worked at the school for her summer job.
I had graduated from Griswold High School in 1980, went onto Simpson College to study music performance and education but had dropped out six weeks into the Fall semester. (Another story for another day).
From October to this hot day in July I had worked at two different jobs and really had no plan or direction for my future. My hair sat on my shoulders and who knows how long it had been since I had shaved, although you probably couldn’t call what I had a real beard.
As I stood in the doorway my high school basketball coach, Kent Gade, walked up to me, poked his finger from his 6-5 inch frame and said “Why don’t you do something with your life?”. He turned and walked away.
Those words, that one sided interaction, changed the trajectory of my life. Within a couple of weeks I had shaved, gotten my haircut and enrolled in Iowa Western Community College.
The man I still call “Coach” spoke life back into me with an eight word phrase but those eight words were powerful.
Coach Gade cared enough to confront me and it woke me up. He took a risk but he cared enough to take that risk because he knew I needed to hear it. Caring overrides risk.
As a leader do you care enough to take the risk to confront someone to make a change they need to make?
Words are powerful. Words used correctly and at the right time can change a life. I know because eight words changed mine.
Questions to Ponder and Pursue
1. Who spoke those words to you that had an impact on your life?
a. What could you do to contact them and let them know?
2. Is there someone who you feel may need you to speak some life into them?
Matthew 7:24-27
The Wise and Foolish Builders
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
Every word that Jesus spoke is full of life, encouragement and worth following. This passage is the wrap up for his Sermon on the Mount, and it’s like when the pastor says “in conclusion” on Sunday.
For whatever reason, you sit up and pay attention a little more, because the closing is bringing it all home and typically contains some really wise words, and of course, Jesus doesn’t disappoint.
Every good sermon has three points. This isn’t a sermon, so I’ll just give two.
1. “These words of mine” in verse 24. There have always been, and will be, people that speak things that are not true, not biblical, or worthy of being followed. Listenting to, and following the words of Jesus are the only words worth listening to.
2. There is a difference between “hearing” his words, and “living” his words. To truly live out the words and teachings of Jesus, we need to live out all of his words. We can’t build our life (house) on the rock if we don’t build it on all of his words.
His words are “tried and true”, a “shield”, “living”, “powerful”, “sharper than any two-edged sword”. Those are words worth pursuing, and words that will truly change you.
Questions to Ponder and Pursue
1. How can you discern between words that are true, biblical, and worthy of following, and those that are not? In what ways can one ensure they are primarily listening to and following the words of Jesus?
2. Reflecting on the distinction between “hearing” and “living” the words of Jesus, what practical steps can one take to integrate all of his teachings into your daily life? How does the concept of building one’s life on the rock of Jesus’ words require a comprehensive embrace of all his teachings?
Made For This Moment 