Never Knew You!!

7. August 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Good Morning: 

Our text for today is: 

Matthew 7:21 ”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. 22 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?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ 

This text continues to flow out of the story line “beware” and “only a few will find it.”  Jesus warns us that though people may prophesy in his name and the prophecies come true and people may drive out demons and perform miracles in his name does not guarantee them entrance into the kingdom of God. 

The text teaches only those who do the will of my Father who is in heaven  will enter in.  One may ask how can I really know what is the will of God?    God’s will and his word are synonymous.  You know his word, you know his will.  It’s not hidden, but according to statistics most of us do not invest the time or energy needed to learn the word which is why for some of us, we can be easily deceived.   

Since March, we have been studying the “Sermon on the Mount.”  We have covered in detail what the characteristics and personality should be of a person that is really in the kingdom. 

Jesus has taught us about the heart.  He has taught us through the beatitudes to be poor in spirit, to be meek, to be merciful, to be a peacemaker, to be pure in heart, to hunger and thirst after righteousness, and to endure persecution.  

He has taught us to look into our hearts and make sure we have the right attitudes and has taught us about the dangers of revenge, anger, lusts in our hearts, and desiring the treasures of this world over against seeking God. 

Jesus is about to bring this sermon to a close, but he has taught us how to renew our minds.  He has given us practical examples on how to change and how to reconcile with those who have wronged us and who we have wronged.  He has clearly laid out the way.   

Today, he focuses back in on the heart again, by telling us just because a person does good works in the name of God and calls him Lord, does not mean that they were ever a part of the kingdom.  The heart has to be examined.  Why are you doing what you’re doing?  Why are you giving?  Why are you praying? Why are you sacrificing?  In this case, why were they prophesizing and casting out demons?  What were their motives?  It could not have been to please God or to do his will for the text says Jesus will say:  I never knew them.   

If I could sum up this entire Sermon on the Mount in one word it would be “heart.”  Jesus teaches us how to change our hearts.  He teaches us how to develop the right priorities, how to have the right motives.   

I don’t know about you but there is so much that I have learned in this series, way more than I can pen on these pages every week and I can honestly say it has been life changing.    I have had to examine my motives, deal with relationships, change my way of thinking about certain things, let go of some pride that I was holding on to and just get meek and humble about a whole lot of things. 

I have realized that at the end of the day, I want to be able to lay my head on my pillow and hear God say to me, “well done.” 

Yes, it’s a process and I just have to take one day at a time and each day I feel stronger and surer of who I really am in God.  When mistakes are made, we just have to pick ourselves up and “keep moving.”   

Earlier this year, I was so motivated by a friend of mine’s email and testimony to keep moving (most of you know him) that I bought a silver bracelet and had the words “keep moving” engraved on it along with a friend of mine that also did it with me.   

It is a daily reminder that no matter what happens; I can’t stop and get depressed about it.  I just got to keep moving.   Even if the steps are baby steps, Keep moving and at the end of the day, or the end of the week, or the end of the month, or year, those baby steps have resulted in major accomplishments and major victories. KEEP MOVING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Let me be clear, it’s not a burden to live for God, it’s a privilege.  Remember, Jesus said, “only a few will find it.”   I can honestly say that living as a Christian is liberating and exciting and so full of joy and fulfillment even through the hard times.   We just have to learn as Paul says; “to be content in whatsoever state we are in.”  This is where we are, live in it, enjoy it, endure it and it all works together for our good.   

Let’s examine our hearts today, for it is a dangerous thing for the Lord to say; “I never knew you.”  Never…….    WOW!!!!!  Never knew you……….. 

God Bless!!!!  Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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