Heart’s Posture
LENT 2023 | DAY 27
Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV)
(Paul Gwee, Associate Lay Leader)
READ:
Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV)
DAILY REFLECTION:
I noticed that it was Jesus Himself who gave these warnings to His audience. Hence, it is critically important that I pay careful attention.
The first warning is that simply calling Jesus “Lord, Lord” will not guarantee entry to the kingdom of heaven. Only those who do the will of God will be able to get there.
Secondly, those who claim that they prophesied, exorcised demons and did many miracles in His name will also be disqualified.
In fact, Jesus’ heart-wrenching words to many of such people will be “I never knew you.” It must be shocking to hear this especially when they would think in their hearts that they had done all the right things. Not only would they not be recognised, they would probably also be shaken at being told to depart from Jesus’ presence and called evildoers.
These are severe warnings to me about my relationship with Jesus.
Jesus said that only those who do the will of His Father who is in heaven will enter the kingdom of heaven.
I believe doing His will starts from having the right motives and a living faith in Him. Jesus always looks at my heart. When my heart’s posture is not right with the Lord, whatever I say and do will be meaningless and not be recognised by Him.
I will yield my heart to be obedient to Jesus my Lord. It has been said, “Obedience is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22). It is not about how much we achieve for God but how obedient our hearts are in doing His will.
I will use the discipline of examen to deepen, refresh and repent in my daily personal relationship of obedience to Him and to bear fruit. I will work out my salvation with fear and trembling. I will set aside family devotion and prayer time with God.
FAMILY DISCUSSION POINTERS:
1. Jesus tells us that what we profess verbally must be accompanied by our obedience to God. Obedience is better than sacrifice. Pause and reflect on your obedience to God.
2. In Matthew 15:8, Jesus said of the Pharisees, “These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. What is the posture of your heart today?
3. How can you and your family be men and women after God’s heart?
