NOT EVERY ONE!

NOT EVERY ONE!

Matt 7:21-23

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

          Words are no substitute for obedience and religion alone is no substitute for true faith. None are more lost than those who are unaware of their true condition. In Jesus’ day religion dripped from the Pharisees like sweat from a common laborer. The common Jew was trapped between the dual oppression of religion and Rome. Laws were not only oppressive but contradictory. True devotion to a living God was stifled in the atmosphere of the time.

          Today the religious world is doing very well with so-called mega churches springing up in every shopping center. Worshippers wander in from off the streets and, with a dazed look, raise their hands to an unknown God while mouthing unfelt praises to a rhythm that moves the body but not the soul. It is hard not to speculate on how many true worshippers are in attendance at such gatherings. True righteousness and morality are smothered by our culture.

          We are not the judge of another’s profession of faith. That role is reserved ultimately for God alone. He alone can know our true heart and judge both our actions and our motives. Until then the tares grow alongside the wheat until the harvest. The wheat will be gathered into barns and the tares will be bundled for burning.

2 Peter 1:5-10

…giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

Dear Lord, please minister to me and through me today. Let me be a blessing and an encouragement to those who struggle in the way. AMEN