THIS IS TABLE ROCK FELLOWSHIP – PASTOR RYAN LADEN
Sobering
The following passage is one of the most sobering and challenging messages given by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For those of us that have grown accustomed to only listening to the light and easy parts of the Bible, what follows will be a challenge.
In this teaching, Jesus Christ gives a serious warning and challenge that must be embraced by those who are seeking to walk the narrow path that leads to life. Consider what follows:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Paths
This warning follows Jesus’ message about choosing which path the would-be Christian should seek to follow in this life.
· One path was said to be easy to find, easy to travel, and free from opposition. That wide way has one major drawback however; it leads to destruction.
· The other path was said to be hard to find, lonely to travel, bumpy and challenging; but it leads to true life, eternal life, abundant life.
Sincere
Following the call to make your choice concerning your journey, Jesus challenged the would-be Christian to do more than simply wear the name of a Christ follower.
· Those that wanted to appear as a Christian without committing to the narrow path that leads to life were seen as insincere, false believers.
· They were referred to as wolves in sheep’s clothing.
· The true Christian would show themselves to be sincere as they produced good spiritual fruit; their actions and attitudes would confirm the true condition of their faith.
Attention Grabbing
In the challenging message given in the passage above, Jesus Christ makes his final push to get our attention.
· Jesus describes a person who assumes that they have been on the narrow path; who assumes that they are genuine sheep; who believes that they have been producing the right kind of fruit.
· This person claims to have been in the service of the Christ during their lifetime.
· This person falsely asserts that their actions have proven that they are worthy of entrance into the gift of eternal life with Christ.
Jesus uses this vivid imagery to get us to sit up and pay attention.
If someone can claim to have done all of these fantastic things in the name of Jesus Christ, and yet not have known that they were travelling the wide way that leads to destruction, then you and I ought not assume that we are doing the “right stuff” either.
Point
The point of this sobering message is that this braggard might have done a lot in the name of Jesus Christ, but he did not do the one thing that Jesus commanded. Listen to the command of Christ again:
“Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.””
Love
The command of Christ is to love the Lord your God with all you are and all you have.
As we love the Lord, we will learn to love others as well.
There is no substitute for love.
Prayer
As you face your day consider this prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ,
thank you for loving me.
It is my joy to love you.
Help me love others as well.
(Repeat)
In Christ,
Ryan Laden
OUR MISSION AS A CHURCH
“TO ENCOURAGE AND EQUIP EACH OTHER IN LOVE TO KNOW JESUS AND MAKE HIM KNOWN”
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