ICS Daily Devotions
Seek First the Kingdom
Matthew 7:21-23 (NKJV) “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
This passage where Jesus denied those who had used His gifts and exercised His authority to cast out demons stands as quite a stark reminder. However, Jesus was referring to those who have not given their lives to the Lord. It doesn’t take faith to exercise authority or to prophesy using the name of Jesus. Jesus’ name in itself carries authority as there is no other name that is higher than the name of Jesus, at which even demons must bow, and because God is compassionate, merciful, and gracious, He will use any vessel as a conduit to bless and minister to those in need.
Entering the kingdom of God has to do with the acknowledgement of the lordship of Christ in our lives. It is God’s will for us to respond to the call for salvation by accepting Jesus Christ as the Lord of our lives, and to lay down our lives and rights to live out His will for our lives. We choose to live a life of consecration where we say to the Lord “not my will but your will be done in my life”. God wants us to be obedient to His call, and live purposefully for Him. This is not only meant for those who are called to full time ministry, but for every disciple. The job or business that God has given us is not just a means to support our family or to help us in our self-actualisation, but to be His witness in the marketplace, to be modern day fishermen for Christ!
Those who have fully understood how much it cost the Lord to die for us on the cross would want to live their lives for Him because it is a natural response out of our love for Him. God has a will and purpose for all of us from the time we were saved to when we leave this earth. Sadly, many Christians have no desire to pursue God’s will for their lives, but are seeking their self-worth and being enticed by the worldly lure of being significant, because no one can serve mammon and God. Some have even departed from walking with the Lord just because they didn’t receive the promotion or have their selfish prayers answered. While it is good to shine for the Lord when we are promoted, it reveals our faulty foundation when we stop walking, turn lukewarm or indifferent with the Lord if we don’t get what we desire.
Sermon Series: He Came to Give You a New Identity (Part 2)
