Jesus pointed out several ways to discern if we are actually applying His word to our lives or not.

Here we see His test for the outcome of putting His word into practice versus the outcome of only fooling ourselves. The difference is clearly shown by His example of the Wise and Foolish Builders in Matthew 7: 24-27. The “Therefore” here (which we want to make a practice of looking for why the “there” is there, whenever Jesus says “Therefore”) refers to the previous chapters, Matthew chapters 5-7.

These are the concluding verses to the Sermon of the Mount:

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Matthew 7: 24-27

You will notice that both types of people—those who build their lives on His word solidly and those who do not—will face the same dangers, difficulties, and decisions. The storms, winds, and waters will be there for everyone. However, Jesus points out that in this life, those who put His words into practice and are consistent and serious about it (in other words, you have to actually build your house on the rock, not just go for a visit to look at the scenery), will be wise and have a house that doesn’t fall.

These verses are about how we live out the Kingdom life and live out WWJD every day in our lives here on this planet where Jesus walked.