Today I want to share something I learned a while back through an inductive study on the book of Matthew. During that time studying many things have convicted me, encouraged me, touched, and inspired me. But today I am going to share just two of those.
““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. 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?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” Matthew 7:21-23
My goodness, the verses above were so very convicting to my heart in a deeper, more serious way than ever before. I have been blessed to have gotten many chances to serve my Heavenly Father through missions for a long time now. However, these verses made me think, and I mean really think about the position and motive of my heart when it comes to serving the Lord. Am I truly doing it for the right reasons, or am I doing it for the approval of man, and selfish gain? Or even out of a position of thought that I have to earn my way into heaven? Sadly, I am sure in the past I have not served for all the right reasons. I have likely served God for all of the wrong listed reasons above. This grieves my heart. But, praise our great God that he is full of grace. We should serve God because we know Him, want to know Him more, and want others to know Him too! I want my heart’s desire and movies to always be about knowing and loving Him!
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“Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”” Matthew 25: 44-46
Now we talked about our hearts position when we work for the Lord , but what about when we know we should and choose not to? My goodness, just like the other set of verses, I did some deep thinking. I do not believe God calls us to be perfect and never mess up, that is why he sent Jesus. But how many times have I not served when I should have? A lot I am sure! I remember one day I drove past a man holding a sign on a street corner. I didn’t really have time to stop as I needed to follow traffic and turn quickly, but honestly that was more of an excuse. I could have driven back around. Though I remember once I drove off I felt these verses in my heart convict me. I could have stopped to turn around and go tell that man he is loved and can be saved! I could have also given him something to eat. But did I? No! Sadly no. I turned around and drove home. That day the man’s soul did not get to hear the Love of Christ from someone (me) who knew the truth full well. This led me to think how many believers , myself included, make excuses to justify why we did not serve and give. “Oh it’s not helpful to give money to people on the streets, it just enables them.” Or like mine; “Traffic was crazy I could not stop.” Or even; “It could be dangerous to talk to homeless people alone!” “I’m too afraid, God will use someone else!” The list of sad excuses and lies could go on and on. If you see someone in need and feel the Spirit telling you to love for the sake of Christ. Stop and obey! Could imagine if all believers upon hearing the call from the Spirit jump up to love quickly. You never know how God can use you with one simple encouraging word. I pray that I get better at this along with every believer. Because we do not know when Jesus is coming back, but we must be awake and ready, doing our part so no soul loses its chance at salvation.
