“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21
Many who claim to be Christians and followers of Jesus will be shocked on the last day when Jesus says to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matt. 7:23). Only those who do the will of God the Father – who repent of their sinful ways and look to Jesus and His cross in faith – will receive God’s pardon and forgiveness and a place in His eternal kingdom.
Forgive my sins, O God, and cleanse my heart for the sake of Christ Jesus and His innocent sufferings and death on the cross in my stead. Grant that I do Your will and walk in daily repentance and faith in Jesus, my Savior. In His name, I pray. Amen.
“I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’” Psalm 2:7-9
God the Son speaks in these verses, revealing that He is and always will be the only-begotten Son of the Father. He reigns and will ultimately judge all the nations and peoples of the earth. He will bring down and utterly destroy those who oppose Him and His eternal kingdom.
Grant to me, O Lord Jesus, Son of God, a humble and penitent heart that I might not rebel against You but acknowledge my sins and look to You and Your cross for pardon and forgiveness. Amen.
“He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure: ‘Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.’” Psalm 2:4-6
Though the peoples of this world and their rulers rebel against the LORD God and seek to keep Him from ruling over them, He laughs at mankind’s futile attempts to escape His rule and judgment. The true Lord has anointed His own King over His church, His only-begotten Son, who is now establishing an eternal kingdom made up of all who trust in Him for salvation. This kingdom and rule is eternal and will supplant all the kingdoms of this world (cf. Dan. 2:44).
Have mercy upon me, O God, and grant that I cease rebelling against You and place my faith in Your Son that I might receive Your pardon and forgiveness and a place in Your everlasting kingdom. Amen.
“Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, ‘Behold the Lamb of God!’” John 1:35-36
John directed his own disciples to Jesus, their Savior! So also, faithful pastors and churches do not seek to keep disciples for themselves but point them to Jesus, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
God, grant that we, too, direct people to look in faith to Jesus, the Lamb of God who atoned for the sins of all and is the only Savior of fallen mankind. Amen.
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.” Matthew 7:15-16
Jesus warns His disciples to beware of false prophets — those who appear to be part of God’s flock but who are inwardly ravenous wolves, misleading, scattering, and destroying God’s flock with their lies and false teaching. Jesus said we would recognize them by their fruits. If their teaching or manner of living is contrary to the Bible, which is God’s Word, we should not expect to receive of them good and enduring fruit — true doctrine or a right application of God’s truth.
Give me the wisdom to recognize and avoid false prophets, O Lord, and preserve me in the true and saving faith unto life everlasting. Amen.
