“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.’”

• Looking deep into your heart, these verses should either give you great assurance, or make you extremely uncomfortable. A mere statement of Christianity does not make you a Christian. Righteousness is not found in the claim of Christianity, it is proven in a life lived in obedience to the words of Jesus Christ. A true Christ follower is cleansed from the inside out. When Christ has become your Lord, your true love for others, and a peace that passes all understanding, will engulf your life, and cannot be hidden. A partial commitment proves that you have made a false claim.

• Are your actions backing up who you claim to be?
• Do you have to tell someone you are a Christian, or is there no doubt from your actions that you are a child of the King?

Dear Lord, may we each look deep into our own hearts and be real about where we stand in our commitment to You. Reveal to us our shortcomings, and cleanse us from the inside out, so that we are assured that we will never hear those words: “Depart from Me, I never knew you.” Amen