It is so important to examine our lives before God on a regular basis, lest we go off tract and not even realize it. Take a step back today and think about how you are living for God. Are you giving into temptations or is your faith strong enough to withstand it? It would be so sad to die and then go before Jesus in judgement, thinking that we are saved, but in reality we are not. It would be terrifying to hear the words, 3“I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” What is worse, is that people that are still alive would think that we are in heaven but in reality we are in hell, for all eternity. 4We’d love to tell them of our pain and suffering but we can’t. To think that if people followed your example, they could also be on this same path to destruction. This may be a hard thing to think about, but the truth of the matter is, this happens every day. Every day a person dies and thinks they are saved but in reality their own good works did not save them. And how did these people not know the path they were on was wrong? It is because they did not open their hearts fully to God. Their own good works was their security. What they were doing was going to land them in a good spot in heaven. 2However, what they did not know is our own works are like filthy rags. Only the good works that God can do through us will make a difference.
We are saved by grace, through faith, and not of our own good works, 5“lest any man should boast.” It is so important that we humble ourselves before God. That our lives are no longer, only made up of our own good works, but also the works of the Lord. We must allow the Holy Spirit to come into our lives and change us. If we are proud and lifted up, acknowledge it and give all the haughtiness to the Lord. No one is secure in their salvation unless the Lord has made it known in our lives. Only the Spirit of God can lead us on the right path. Our lives with the Lord is like someone that elevates God’s desires over our own. Like 1“a child that is weaned of his mother,” we take in as much as we can from God, in order to live a life for Him. Prayer is our sacred place, for it is our time with the Lord. Think about it. Can the Lord know you if you are not heart felt in your prayers or do not make time to pray? The Word of God will also lead us to do His works and not our own. Our walk with Christ does not mean we don’t show fruits of our faith. We do so, for 5“we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.” It is our privilege to do God’s will. Never think that you are saved until you are doing God’s will in Your life. Living for Him is salvation.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, look through my life. Help me to know where I stand before You. If you do not know me now, please let me know, lest I die and be found unworthy in judgement. I do not wish to walk away from Your love but to walk in it. I truly desire to be saved, oh Lord. You are my Savior and King. Come into my life. Have mercy upon my soul and forgive me, for my sins. Tear down the pride in my life, that I might live for You. Help me to love one another, as You love them. Teach me to know Your ways. Help me to walk in Your good works. I know I cannot be saved on my own. I need You to lead me in all things. My flesh is weak on my own, but with You in my life, I am stronger. Lead me on Your path, oh Lord. Help me to not stray from Your light. I trust in You Jesus. I love You. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Psalm 131 (KJV)
1 Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.
2 Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.
3 Let Israel hope in the Lord from henceforth and for ever.
2Isaiah 64:4-9 (KJV)
4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.
5 Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved.
6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
7 And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.
8 But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
9 Be not wroth very sore, O Lord, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.
3Matthew 7:21-29 (KJV)
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
4Luke 16:19-31
19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
5Ephesians 2:8-10 (KJV)
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
