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Have
you ever been out shopping or running errands when someone
approaches you and starts up a conversation as if you
are familiar friends? They know your name and seem to
know everything about you. But, try as you might, you
cannot recall their face or their name. You just don't
have a memory of them. As they are talking, you are
thinking, "Do I know you?"
Just because you
know Jesus' name and who He is, that doesn't mean that
He knows you. Do you realize that you can even belong
to a church and work on projects in the name of the
Lord and still not be a child of God.
God recognizes His
children by their fruit.
By fruit we aren't talking about apples or oranges. No, God
is looking for the fruit of His Spirit (love, peace, joy,
faith, goodness, kindness, meekness, temperance and self-control
from Galatians
5:22-23).
Matthew 7:20-23
Yes, the way to identify a tree or a person is by the kind
of fruit that is produced. "Not
all people who sound religious are really godly. They may
refer to me as `Lord,' but they still won't enter the Kingdom
of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father
in heaven. On judgment day many will tell 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. Go away; the things you
did were unauthorized. (New Living Translation)
According to the Word
of God, what we do, not just what we say, is very important.
Yes, salvation is a gift of God and we are saved by faith
not in any works lest any man should boast (See Ephesians
2:8-9). However, the Bible also tells us that faith without
works is dead (See James
2:17).
Why? Faith in Christ
without demonstrating the nature of Christ is a sign that
Christ really isn't in us. Jesus said in John 14:15, "If
you love me, you will obey my commandments." Obedience
to God's Word is the result of our love for Him. So, what
commandments should we obey as children of God? Simple. Love
God with all your heart, all your soul and all your strength;
and do the things that demonstrate the love of God. All of
God's commandments can be summed up in these two (See Matthew
22:37-39). Then, on judgment day you can be sure that
Jesus will recognize you as a child of God.
Matthew 25:34-40
Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming
to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the
world's foundation. And here's why:
- I was hungry and
you fed me,
- I was thirsty and
you gave me a drink,
- I was homeless and
you gave me a room,
- I was shivering
and you gave me clothes,
- I was sick and you
stopped to visit,
- I was
in prison and you came to me.
Then those 'sheep'
are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When
did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give
you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison
and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the
solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone
overlooked or ignored, that was me--you did it to me. (The
Message)
Today's Life Principle:
Children of God display the nature of God and do the will
of God.
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