Jesus says…actions speak louder than words

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Matthew 7:21-23 ESV

 

I remember learning The Lord’s prayer in second grade, and memorizing those words so that we could pray them like everyone else at our Catholic church in service.  “Our Father who art in heaven…your Kingdom come, your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven.”  I don’t think in second grade I fully grasped what doing God’s will might look like, but apparently we prayed because it was important.  At churches and with other Christians we often speak about doing what God calls us to do, or the importance of following Him.  But often that conversation is mainly just that conversation, talking.

 

Then I read these words from Jesus; about how we will be measured up by God.  Jesus makes it clear, He will respond to those who do the will of God.  Our relationship to Jesus is measured more by what we do, than anything we say. 

 

As a pastor, I will admit that often our forte as a church and Christians is talking a good talk.  Suddenly when that talk requires action, we lose momentum, we get cold feet, or sometimes we even admit that we like the theory, but are not sure about the implications of real action.  Jesus says that God desires people who DO his will, even when His will means:

 

  • Doing something uncomfortable or out of our comfort zone
  • Doing something that you could not do out of your own strength, but His strength alone
  • Engaging people and circumstances that we would not have typically engaged
  • Taking leaps of faith, not steps of human logic

 

 

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”  So the question remains, will you step out in faith and Do God’s will?

 

 

Pastor Bill

 

 

Discussion Questions

 

What might be a circumstance in your life where God is calling you to DO his will?