Weekly Devotional 2-7-22 Make the Right Choice
Matthew, one of Jesus’ disciples, wrote in the gospel that bears his name (The Gospel According to Matthew) that after Jesus was tested by Satan, He began ministering in Galilee calling people to repentance, saying, “the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). He chose twelve men who would continue this proclaim ation after His departure into heaven. For the next 3 years Jesus kept these men close to Himself, teaching them about the kingdom of heaven. He of course knew that one of them, Judas Iscariot, was not a true disciple but a deceiver. He began their instruction by taking them aside up into a mountain teaching them about the kingdom of heaven, how its principles were different that the principles of the world. Matthew records those principles in chapters 5-7.
As He closed that time of teaching Jesus said: “21 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. 22 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?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ 24 Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall’” (Matthew 7:21-27).
Not sure if Jesus had Judas in mind as He spoke these words, but certainly, years later, after they had been dispatched to their ministries, the eleven would have recalled the contrast between the two kingdoms drawn by Jesus. They would have considered the cost of true discipleship and yet they remained faithful. By the end of the first century they all would be martyred, except John, who was chosen by Jesus as the conveyor of His message to the church as recorded in the book of Revelation. But even he suffered greatly. He was exiled to the Island of Patmos as punishment for proclaiming the gospel of Jesus. It was not a life of leisure, but one of great toil and difficulty. Yet he remained faithful, he did not waiver in his commitment.
Persons down through these many centuries, including persons of our day when called to repentance and commitment have like Judas, chosen the kingdom of this world and its allurements. Many, like Judas, look good, look like being a true follower of Jesus, but are not. Many have believed that because they have lived a decent life, have proclaimed the gospel, and have done other Christian things belong to the heavenly kingdom but Jesus’ judgment of them will be, depart from Me, I never knew you. Remember His words to those original disciples; “21 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. 22 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?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”
Persons need to be wise when considering the kingdom of this world or the kingdom of heaven. Judas made the wrong choice and ended up forever cast out of the presence of God. The eleven chose the kingdom of heaven and will forever be in God’s presence. Hallelujah!
Steve
Stevelampman.com
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