"Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter." Matthew 7:21
Jesus makes it very clear to His disciples in this verse what qualifies a true follower of Christ. It is people who live to do His will and not their own. They live to fulfill His agenda by obeying His commands. That doesn’t mean performing your will in His name. We are to live a life of serving our Master. Bondservants were servants who surrendered their freedom they had been given to continue to serve and do the will of their master out of love and loyalty. Christ surrendered His will for the Father’s will the whole time He lived on earth among man. The true disciples of Christ are known by their obedient lives to do the will of the Heavenly Father.
You have no problem seeing the difference in them and the world. They do not blend; they set themselves apart from this world. They keep themselves unstained by the world as scripture commands in James 1:27.
In Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus instructs:
Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. "
These are sobering words we need to heed! He goes on to declare in Matthew 7:22-23:
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
Doing religious works in the name of Jesus without consulting Him is wrong. Isn’t it interesting He tells them I never knew you? These religious people had no relationship with the Father or the Son. How opposite is their behavior compared to Jesus’ example he lived. In John 5:30 we read:
"I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me."
How many of us qualify scripturally to be called true disciples of Christ? May I encourage you and myself to prepare for the coming of the Lord! We have a hope and a future in heaven if we know and understand the Word of God. We must stop listening to everyone else’s interpretation of Scripture and read the Bible for ourselves in order not to go the broad way many will go that leads to destruction. We must seek a relationship with the Trinity. Do we know Him personally, or do we just know about Him? We learn who He is by seeking Him with all our hearts. And how can we be obedient if we do not know His commands? We must study and meditate on scripture — not someone else’s interpretation.
We must live with a knowledge this is not our home on this earth. We are only passing through. We must live here watching and being expectant of what the Bible promises for the children of God. I close with these encouraging words from 1 John 2:28-29 and 1 John 3:2-3
Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming, If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.
"Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared yet what we shall be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure."
Father God, helpus not be distracted by the prince of this world but to occupy until your return as You told us. Help us to keep our eyes and heart fixed on You, and to watch expectantly that we might be purified as your Word promises, so that we will not shrink back at Your coming. In Jesus name.
In His love.
Teresa Roberts
Masterpiece Fitness
276-237-6680
These photos were taken on a trail run to High Rock Overlook in Wytheville, Virginia. When you park at the Crystal Springs Recreation area and take the Boundary Trail Loop there is a spur off it to High Rock. Quite rewarding as you can see and appropriately named! I love climbing on the rocks that lift you up in the clouds and tree tops!
