Today’s Reading: Matthew 7:21 (HCSB)
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Today’s Question: What is the scariest verse in the Bible?
Today’s Commentary:
This verse should cause every church-goer to shudder. It should stop us in our tracks for a moment of sincere personal evaluation. Here is the reality: a person can attend every worship service during a lifetime of Sundays, sing every hymn or chorus in the book, read the Bible from cover to cover, and even do “good” deeds on a regular basis but still be condemned to the pit of hell. Absolutely scary stuff!
There are three types of people in the world. First, there are those who live as followers of Jesus Christ. Second, there are people who have rejected Christ. The final category of people includes those who proclaim Christ with their voice and reject Him with their hearts.
In the concluding thoughts of Jesus’ Great Sermon, he takes the audience to a future time when each person faces the Judgment. Upon death, each person will give account for their lives. “__(insert your name)_____, did you do the will of God the Father?”
Jesus said previously that few would enter the “narrow gate” and walk the “narrow road” that leads to eternal life. Now Jesus proclaims that some who think they are on the “narrow road” are deceiving themselves. Since Jesus has just taught the people about false teachers, he addresses the high probability of an audience who has a false assurance. False teachers have distorted the teaching on how to get to Heaven. Jesus brings clarity to a lethal misunderstanding.
Only those who do the will of God the Father will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Is the claim of Christianity exclusive, narrow-minded, and absolute? Yep! Jesus says “only” without exception. He did not include an asterisk for any special interest group, large donors, or privileged class. Only means “only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven.”
Am I doing God’s will? This is the most important question in this conversation. Some people claim that the will of God is to strap bombs onto one’s body and enter into crowed places. Others make decisions in pursuit of personal satisfaction and success in this life, claiming God wants them to be happy. Many of God’s commands and expectations have been broken in the “name of God.” Deception is the primary language of satan and those who follow his will speak fluent a self-deceiving dialect.
Am I doing God’s will? None of Jesus’ followers have lived a perfect, sinless life. The change that the Spirit of God makes is internal. Jesus changes the heart of His followers. Christians are in the will of God because they have a heart that wants to serve God. They willingly bow to the absolute Lordship of Jesus Christ as their Master. They remain in the will of God by obeying His commands. When they sin, they return to the will of God through repentance and brokenness.
J. C. Ryle once proclaimed, “It requires far more than most people seem to think necessary, to save a soul. We may be baptized in the name of Christ, and boast confidently of our ecclesiastical privileges. We may possess head-knowledge, and be quite satisfied with our own state. We may even be preachers, and teachers of others, and do “many wonderful works” in connection with our church. But all this time are we practically doing the will of our Father in heaven? Do we truly repent, truly believe on Christ, and live holy and humble lives? If not, in spite of all our privileges and profession, we shall miss heaven at last, and be forever cast away. We shall hear those dreadful words, “I never knew you. Depart from me.”
Tomorrow’s lesson will examine the dreaded phrase no one would want to hear from our Lord.
“Follow One, Lead Others” Principle #55: Disciples of Jesus seek to daily follow the will of God.
Today’s Prayer Point: Pray for those who are deceived by satan into believing that they are going to Heaven. Pray for them to turn to Christ in repentance and faith.
Shepherding Well 