We were asked an essential question during the weekend message, "Do we know Jesus, or do we just know about Jesus." You see, there is a big difference between knowing facts about someone and knowing them. For example, you know facts about your favorite musician, like what you learn about them through their songs and interviews that they give, but you do not truly know them. You do not have a relationship with them. Similarly, Jesus taught that there is a distinction between knowing facts about Him and truly knowing Him. Only those who have a relationship with Him will be saved and spared from the eternal judgment awaiting those who have not placed their faith in Him.
In Matthew 7, as Jesus taught a crowd gathered to hear His teaching, He explained that His true followers do not just know facts about Jesus, but they have a personal relationship with Him. In this passage of Scripture, He said, "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" (verse 21). There is a difference between just knowing facts about Jesus and actually following Him by obeying Him. Those who obey actually have a relationship with Him and truly know Him. Jesus continued teaching, saying, "On judgment day many will say to me, 'Lord! Lord! We 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. Get away from me, you who break God's laws'" (verse 23). These individuals described here do not have a deep relationship with Christ because they do not follow Him with their words and actions. They do not actually know Him. As a result, they will spend an eternity apart from Him.
Our call today is clear: Don't be like those who claim to follow Jesus, but do not actually know and follow Him. After all, He wants to have a relationship with each one of us. Let's commit to knowing Him, spending time with Him regularly, and obeying Him. Let's be people who live out what we claim to believe.
Take some time today to get alone with God. Go on a walk, sit on your back porch, or find your favorite chair at home to sit in and be still before God. Talk to Him. Tell Him what is on your mind, and leave space to listen to what He might be saying to you. Thank Him that He wants to have a relationship with you, and commit to continuing to grow in that relationship.
1 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.
3 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.
6 “Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.
7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
9 “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.
12 “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.
13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.
15 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
21 “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. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’
24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.
