Living it
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
(Matthew 7:21, NKJV)
When all is going well, we rarely think of seeking any assistance as really nothing needs to be different. We relish and are energized by the loveliness and tranquility of the moment with a hope that this continues into the future. However, as we all know, life is about ups and downs, the ups are beautiful moments and we are at our best. It is different when we experience the downs, and a common cry ‘oh my God’ (OMG as some will say it), is what informs others of the distraught emotions experienced. Whether the individual is a believer or not, moments of distress makes us look to a higher power for help. It is in such moments that each one of us realizes that we do not have it all together and so we reach out, unlike in times when we are up and all is working to our favour. My observation is that when a call for help is issued, the response is usually from those who have walked with the individual closely. Proximity is a factor in determining the help that one receives when they call.
Our reference verse is by Jesus our Lord, who said many will refer to Him rightly as Lord, but that is no assurance for entering heaven. Jesus clarifies for us that those who enter heaven will be those who do the will of His Father. This introduces two elements, one is the verbal engagement and a call of ‘Lord Lord’ and the other is the doing part. This makes me understand that God is more interested in the doing more than the saying. Sadly, people say many things but do the opposite, no wonder the saying ‘do as I say not as I do’. Child psychologists tells us that children will copy what you do and not necessarily what you say, this is the power of the action. The commitment and heart posture of an individual is known by what they do. The bible also calls us to be people of action, being doers of the word (James 1:22). Brethren, we are called to love others and Apostle John tells us that our love should not be just by words but must be accompanied by actions (1 John 3:18). We are reminded that we shall be known by our fruits (Matthew 7:16). Fruits are born from a process of work and nurturing, they are as a result of consistency and commitment, not a one off action. The fruits of our lives are what distinguishes us and communicates to others what we have believed in. The world needs to see the good that we do and through our lives, get to desire to know Jesus Christ our Master. It is all about a life of faith in action. May we not be like the pharisees who said one thing and did differently. Jesus referred to this and said that the pharisees sit in Moses’ seat and tell others what to observe though they do not observe the same, He called them hypocrites (Matthew 23:1-3). Hypocrites might sound harsh but again, it shows how God looks at people who say one thing and do the other. Reflecting on this brings home the reality of giving all for Jesus, not half-baked obedience but full obedience, where our lives and actions are guided and determined by our faith in God. This might be what Apostle Paul was helping us understand when he said that he lived by faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God (Galatians 2:20). Beloved, we are called to be fully sold out, so that our words and our actions align to what we have subscribed to, dedicated faith in Jesus Christ. May we grow in this commitment and eventually be found faithful by our Lord Jesus Christ.
Thoughts:
How does this message resonate with your life?
In which areas are you challenged to do right?
How do others experience your faith: words or actions?