Actioning the Will of God

February 4, 2023

Matthew 7:21-23 | James 2:18-20

This passage throws some wrenches into otherwise widely-held assumptions regarding faith and salvation; namely: that if I have the right faith in my heart, I’m good to go. For time and time again in Matthew, Jesus will teach and demonstrate and tell parables and demonstrate again that it’s the action of following God’s will and way that leads to eternal life. (We will eventually read 7:24-27 and 25:31-46, but if you’re bored go ahead and read them now.)

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Matthew 7:21-23

“Not everybody who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will get into the kingdom of heaven. Only those who do the will of my Father who is in heaven will enter. On the Judgment Day, many people will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name and expel demons in your name and do lots of miracles in your name?’ Then I’ll tell them, ‘I’ve never known you. Get away from me, you people who do wrong.’”

James 2:18-20

Someone might claim, “You have faith and I have action.” But how can I see your faith apart from your actions? Instead, I’ll show you my faith by putting it into practice in faithful action. It’s good that you believe that God is one. Ha! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble with fear. Are you so slow? Do you need to be shown that faith without actions has no value at all?

Prayer

God, thank you for this day. Thank you for the written Word I’ve just read. Thank you for giving me a mind with which to think and a heart with which to feel. Thank you for giving me faith with which to believe. Thank you for giving me a voice and for having an ear so that I can pray, pouring out my inners to you at any time. Thank you for giving me a church with whom to worship and in which to fellowship and be discipled and all else that comes with Christian community. But God, help me to wrap all this together to make the action of your will through my life and outward to and in the world. Move my feet and direct my hands. By your Spirit and in Christ, Amen.