relationships (Matthew 7:15-29) A Constant In Our Life

(Matthew 7:15-29)

15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, you will know them by their fruits.

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 will enter. 22 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?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

24 “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts on them, will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and its collapse was great.”

28 When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; 29 for He was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

TODAY'S TAKEAWAY

Verse 23 emphasizes the fact that our faith and salvation is not earned or based on a religion, it is a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ!  God desires that all come to know Him.  We can know Him personally only because of His work on the cross (the tree, the vine).  And when we know Him personally, He is our Rock which we can build upon, and He helps us and protects us for all eternity.

The Lord came in flesh in order to hang and die on the tree, in our place, to pay for our sins.  In His resurrection, He had victory over sin and death, and is therefore the tree of life!  The vine!  So when we realize His great love for us and what He did for us, we will choose to love Him back.  We will see the need and desire to humbly go to Him to repent and accept Him into our life.  In this, He forgives us, gives us eternal life, seals us with His Holy Spirit, covers us with His Righteousness, and changes us from the inside out!  We are forever connected to Him!  Adopted into His family as a child of God!  We cannot lose our salvation.

As we grow closer to the Lord, allowing Him to continue working for us, in us and through us, He nourishes us, equips us, and guides us - to become more like Him.  In His love, goodness, wisdom and strength, we will produce good fruit.  Again, while we cannot lose our salvation, we can quench the Holy Spirit by being disobedient.  Therefore, just like nurturing any healthy relationship, we must abide with the Lord.  One of the ways is to be studying His word.  Another is be praying to Him about everything, and then trusting and relying on Him.

(John 15:4)  Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me.

In our walk with the Lord and desiring to get to know Him better involves knowing His truth.  How else can we differentiate truth from lies, unless we know the truth!   And because Jesus Himself, is Truth, and He desires that we come to know Him, we can have a personal relationship with Him. Going forward, we still have the choice/s:  to listen and obey our loving, perfect heavenly Father... or... do Satan's bidding and help him and the demons work to destroy God's family????!!!!  Yes, it's all too easy for Christians to become deceived, and prideful, and start deceiving, dividing and destroying... The question then becomes, did that person truly, sincerely become a Christian in the first place?

(John 14:6) Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.

It is to our great benefit that we strive to remain steadfast.  And in order to stand up to temptation, it helps to better know God, His will, and His truths.  And not just to know Who and what, but HOW!!!  As our caring, heavenly Father, He desires to help us, guide and equip us!  As well, He is our great comfort, confident and courage, because He along is faithful, unchanging, all-powerful, all-knowing, everywhere-present, holy, just, righteous and loving!

(Psalm 62:2) 

     He alone is my rock and my salvation, 

     My stronghold; I will not be greatly shaken.

(Deuteronomy 32:3-4) 

3   For I proclaim the name of the Lord;
     Ascribe greatness to our God!
4   The Rock! His work is perfect,
     For all His ways are just;
     A God of faithfulness and without injustice,
     Righteous and just is He.