“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ [Matthew 7.21-23]
Really, these words spoken by Jesus should scare the living daylight our of us. Let's think about this.
The contrast between what is good and what is not is a little confusing here ...at least until we read it for what it actually says!
And, here is what it says (Greg's version): Just because one acts all religious, prophesies and casts out demons in Jesus' name, and even performs great miracles in Jesus' name, he or she shouldn't think they can do so at his or her own discretion. Man cannot decide what he will or won't obey of God's Word. God's requirement is perfect holiness. And, just because a person 'gets it right' in prophecy or miracles does not mean that person's heart is fully and humbly submitted to God!
Our dependence upon Jesus is never more critical than when we find ourselves effectively prophesying or performing miracles because in those times we are most susceptible to arrogance and manipulation forgetting that prophecy and miracles do not constitute all God requires of us! He requires fellowship in which we naturally love Him and love man in full fulfillment of His Law.
We must remember that God installed faith in every man (regardless of salvation or not). It is entirely possible that faith can perform miracles without coming from a regenerated (saved) heart.
Every follower of God should declare His Word and perform the miracles Jesus demonstrated. But that is only a small part of what a relationship with God is about. Knowing God is so very much more!
Father, help us to obey You in everything.
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