“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We have prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you...”
Matthew 7:21-23 NLT
As a child, I was programed to believe I must DO for approval. So, of course I asked, “What can I DO for God?”
How many of us spend our entire lives making “To DO” lists to earn God’s approval? After all, Jesus said those who DO the will of His Father will enter heaven. But perhaps we missed Jesus’ clarification of what God’s will is: On judgment day, many will brag about all they’ve done FOR God, but Jesus will reply, “I never knew you!”
We were created for one purpose—relationship. God’s desire is for us to be close to Him, to know Him—THAT is God’s will! So why waste so much time DOING FOR God that we miss the times of BEING WITH God? I don’t need to perform miracles in His name; I need to KNOW His Name! And ironically, relationship, that which brings God most pleasure, will also become my greatest joy!
The more I know God, the more I understand what it means to DO HIS will. I can’t be selfish with this wonderful relationship; I must help others know Him, too. So, perhaps my “To Do” list needs to change. Instead of itemizing tasks to do, how about naming people who need to know GOD’s love!
What's your “To Do” list full of today--things to do or people to love?
