You know the old story, the guy was walking along the lonely beach and he spies an old fashioned lantern. He knows the drill and he begins to rub it and sure enough a genie appears. He looks at the guy and says "You now have three wishes. What is your first wish?" The guy is just beside himself. “Ok, first, I wish I was rich!" The genie nods his head and says "Ok Rich...what's your next wish?" A lot of folks end up like "Rich". You got the name, but you've got nothing in the bank. A lot of folks will grab hold of the title "Christian" but in heart and practice, they are not followers of this Jesus of the Bible. And like that guy with the literal genie...they've got nothing in their spiritual bank. And like the old saying, there are folks who talk the talk but don't walk the walk. Yeah, I know that no one is perfect, even those born-again followers of Jesus. But the difference is that they understand their spiritual lostness and have come to the only one who can cure that with his grace, his forgiveness given freely to all who will ask and then follow. Jesus said that not everyone who calls him "Lord" will enter the kingdom of heaven, only those who do the will of his Father who is in heaven. God's invitation is to everyone who wants it, can have his forgiveness and love. But it is never forced on anyone. And we have just one lifetime to receive it. So make sure that you don't just carry around a name and end up finding out that you have nothing in that spiritual bank account. It's not hard to receive and anyone can have it. Just ask...and then just follow. You do that and you won't just be "Rich"...you will be really rich forever. Here's our Bible verse for today...
Matthew 7:21-23 "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. (22) 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?' (23) And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness."
Remember I'm praying for you,
PJ
Matthew 7:21-23 "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. (22) 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?' (23) And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness."
Remember I'm praying for you,
PJ