Friday, 27 June, 2003

Due to Pastor Al being out of town, we are providing archived devotions from July of 2000.



Text: Matthew 7:21-23

Not everyone who says to me, "Lord. Lord," will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father 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 deeds of power in your name?" Then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; go away from me, you evil doers."



Much like the text from yesterday, we are called to consider our "fruits"...or as it is described here, "one who does the will of my Father in heaven." It is one thing to have to announce everything we do. It is quite another to simply be involved in the will of God as though it is the norm and the expectation of the day. No need to make much of what we have done or are doing if what we are doing is what we do all the time! Doing God's will in our lives is a life -- not a mere listing of when we did something in God's name Rather than listing the "deeds" that have been done, why not rest in knowledge that we are involved in lives that are knit together by the weightier issues of the law...like mercy, justice, loving kindness, love for others. In that way, we would be tying God's reign into each and every part of the day that there would be no need to lift up the isolated times when we did this or that. Our whole life would be the witness.



Connection: How is it that you enter this day? What is the vision for life you have for yourself as a follower of Jesus and how does that transform everything else you do? Are random acts of kindness - the norm of the day - or are they isolated events that seem to be "out of character" for you? Can we make them a very part of our "character" - part of God's reign?



Be present with us in our day, O Lord. Be here to shape our every deed. Be the word that directs us and keeps us "in character" to the part we play as your daughters and sons. Be the very breath of our life that sustains our actions in your name. Amen.