Matthew 7:21 – 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 who is in heaven.
How many have joined a congregation only to become disillusioned by the actions of those whom they perceived (and claimed) to be Christian? Look at what Jesus said in Matthew 18:6-7: “If anyone causes one of these little ones – those who believe in me – to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!” That right there is some of the plainest and strongest language spoken by Christ as a warning to any who claim Him as their savior. I read something a while back that went like this: “If Jesus said His disciples would be known by their love for others, and we claim to follow Him but are known for our bullying, mockery, callousness and contempt for others, then we are actively taking His name in vain. Love must be our reputation.” If we say we follow Jesus, our actions – morning, noon, and night, as well as anything in public or private – must mirror His. In Matthew 12:34-35, Jesus said, “You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.” Are we perfect? Not yet, but when we make mistakes and ask forgiveness especially of the Lord but also of the one on whom our mistake was made, we can trust that at least Jesus has wiped our slate clean – once again! Our striving to be the best advocate for Christ we can be begins with prayer, not secret meetings of factions and splinter groups. In prayer, we can lay bare our innermost thoughts and feelings before our Creator and beg not only His forgiveness but also His strength and wisdom. Withholding tithes, sowing discord, bullying and constant negativity are not traits of Christ, but they certainly echo those of Satan! Jesus also taught in Matthew 12:25, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.” It will be of the greatest benefit to us and to others if we live a life of Jesus before self by giving, serving, studying the Word, praying and striving for unity. Kick ego and the desires of self to the curb where the trash belongs. Serve Christ just as He would – and has! – served you.
