WILL THE LORD KNOW YOU?

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' “


Matthew 7:21-23

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

I think there are three primary categories of people in society when it comes to the Lord.

First, there are those who just choose to not believe in Him no matter what. To them, claiming there is a Lord who is alive and yet unseen, leading, guiding, caring and protecting His people is pure folly. They feel they are intellectually superior to anyone who might hold such a narrow world view. They hear about the Lord but have no interest in getting to know Him on a personal level.

Then there are those who truly believe in the Lord and show it in the way they live their lives day in and day out. They can’t get enough of the Lord’s word whether found in scriptures or in prayer with Him. And they see themselves as nothing without Him and so they cling to Him with all their might, confident in the assurance of eternal hope He promised.

Finally, there are those who claim to be in the Lord but their words are just that…words. This is because their actions don’t reflect that they are willing to surrender anything in their lives for Him, no matter how hard He seeks to convict them. They evoke the word of the Lord to make it appear they are in full relation with Him and yet reject His will consistently in exchange for their own.

It’s that last category of people that Jesus is talking to in our scripture today. For He expects that all believers should be prepared to lay down everything for Him surrendering their life fully to Him, just as He laid His life fully down for us.

What’s the risk if they don’t? Let’s look at the scriptures.

For Jesus clearly says that “Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.”

Jesus is essentially saying that words are just that…words…and it takes a lot more than words to enter the kingdom of heaven. It takes action to go along with the words.

That action needs to be consistent with the Lord’s will. We need not worry where to go because He’ll lead us. All we need to do is follow Him in obedience. Do that and we can be assured He will know us because we have been partnered with Him all along.

One thing is certain. None of us should ever want to hear Jesus say, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoer!' “

By drawing ever near to Him every day, we can make sure we don’t hear that but rather these words:

“Well done, good and faithful servant. With you I am well pleased.”

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com