Act and Be Known!
Feeling left out normally isn’t a pleasant experience.
But maturity tends to soften the blow by providing a more realistic perspective of a situation. Exclusion isn’t only something we learn to deal with. It often just becomes irrelevant.
But one thing is certain, the relationships we do choose to develop are sustained by reciprocity.
If they’re not, then they usually go south at some point, because the ground rules of healthy relationships are commonly established at their beginnings. For example, Jesus Christ insisted that His disciples help perfect the mutual nature of their relationship with Him. He said to them:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one who is doing the will of My Father who is in the heavens [shall enter]. 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 shall confess to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from Me—you who are practicing lawlessness’” [Matt. 7: 21-23] [my emphasis]
γινώσκω: (gî-nōse-kō), have knowledge of, find out, learn, understand, perceive, discern, to have knowledge acknowledge, recognize, be very certain, remember
ἀνομία: (â’-nô-mîâ) wickedness, lawlessness, sin
Jesus demanded that my walk with Him take place on the same path that He’s on.
I can claim to know Christ, proclaiming everything He said. It might sound credible to the world, but if my words and actions don’t resonate with the Spirit Himself [see: Rom. 8:16], then perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised “on that day.”
If I didn’t practice what I preached, He’s gonna know about it.
He’s gonna know all about me for sure.
But He’s not gonna know me.
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.” [Matt. 7:24]
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You can proclaim anything you wish but you cannot run and you cannot hide from God because only he knows how sincerely or insincerely you are his follower. I know I am weak and I am sinner and can only pray that God will forgive me and help me day by day be closer to him and his design for me. Poppi
So true, Poppi!
Such a great reminder! We can claim to be “good” Christians, but are we walking the walk and talking the talk? Will Jesus be proud of me when He receives me for being a good and faithful servant here on earth? We’re so blessed to have a forgiving and all-loving Savior. I must remind myself daily to walk diligently on that narrow path that leads directly to Him.
Me too Nat!
🤍 Freedom in Obedience to Him🤍
Because we listen to his commandments, and keep and do them. We begin by listening, after which our actions follow. In return, God keeps his covenant and shows his mercy to us. Measure for measure… so if we listen carefully, we will realize that it is conditional; if we keep his instruction, then in return God will keep the promises he has given to our ‘fathers’ to us. It follows the measure for measure principle: “for the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” This is not to do with the undeserved gift of salvation through the sheading of Messiah’s blood, but the needed expression of our love for him and all that he has done for us. It is even more important that we obey by working out our deliverance with fear and trembling. If we love him, we will keep his commandments!
Your shared discernment into the true nature of the Word of God is always an anticipated and welcomed sight… Thank you!
Thanks Gary!