We continue our SOAP practice this week — read the passage, then work through Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Keep journaling your answers as you go.
Scripture Passage:
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 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. 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. 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.”
Matthew 7:24–27
Devotional Thought:
Jesus ends the Sermon on the Mount with a simple contrast: the wise builder digs deep and builds on rock; the foolish builder settles for sand. Both houses look the same until the storm comes. The difference isn’t hearing Jesus’ words — both builders may have heard the same sermon. The difference is doing them. As this week’s SOAP practice closes, ask honestly: is your foundation built on hearing, or on obedience?
S — Scripture: What verse or phrase stands out to you?
O — Observation: What does this say, and what does it mean? What does it reveal about God, about people, or about your own heart?
A — Application: What am I going to do because of what God said? Is there a sin to confess? Is there a command to obey? Is there an attitude to change? Is there a promise to trust?
P — Prayer: How will I respond to God? Let His Word shape your words back to Him.