Morning Moments with God- Day 28

                                 

Day 28: False Disciple- Are You One?

Please read the Bible verse for today:

Matthew 7:21-23

True and False Disciples

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 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 in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Yesterday we read about, 'True and False Prophets,' wolves disguised as sheep. Today, the Scripture is on True and False Disciples. According to Merriam-Webster, the word false means, "intentionally untrue, adjusted or made so as to deceive, intended or tending to mislead." To be a false prophet is to lead God's people away from the Lord, but what does it mean to be a false disciple? 

1. I remember the first time I read this Scripture I was scared. I thought, "Maybe, when I say, "Lord, Lord" Jesus would say to me, "I don't know you." But then I realized that I asked Jesus to come into my heart and be the Lord of my life. I believe in Jesus' death on the cross for my sins and His glorious resurrection. "16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16) I am a true disciple and the Lord does know me. I believe one thing that the Lord keeps speaking to my heart since I began reading the Book of Matthew, is that His acceptance, His love, His forgiveness, is simple. We complicate things and think that Jesus wants more from us than we can give. He doesn't. He wants our heart. Give Him your heart and you are a true disciple. 
2. Years ago when my husband and I were youth leaders in New York, we had one teen who did not want to ask Jesus into his heart. I sat with him one day and asked him why. He told me, "If I asked Jesus into my heart than I have to give up drinking, getting high and sleeping around. When I get tired of this life style I will turn my life to Jesus, but for now I will not live as hypocrites like my parents. (His parents were followers of Jesus, and helped out in different ministries, but in the home they were abusive, cussing, alcoholics). 
3. Are we living a life completely sold out for Christ? Are we surrendered to Him? Or are we going to church, helping out in ministries and yet deep in addictions? or doing what we want? Jesus is calling us to surrender. He is calling us to 'send up the white flag.' Can we live, in all areas of our lives, as Jesus wants us to? 
4. Pray with me:
   Jesus, I want to be a true disciple, not a false one. I want to be a person of integrity in and out of my home. I want to be surrendered to your will and not mine. Help me to live for you always. I love you with all of my heart. In Jesus' name, Amen.