Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 7:21

Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.
Matthew 7:24-27

Over and over again the Lord makes it clear that mere religion, going to church, even when it’s a good church where I actually hear the teaching of God’s Word, doesn’t impress Him at all, if that’s all the deeper it goes.

It’s the heart that He’s after. It’s how I respond to His Word that counts.

Is there a genuine conviction of sin, and true repentance? Is there a genuine faith that lays hold of His forgiveness and builds my life on it?

Or am I still clinging to my old way of thinking, speaking and living? Am I still making excuses for my disobedience? Or am I letting Him forgive and correct me?

Wherever there is repentance, there is forgiveness for Jesus’ sake. With His forgiveness, the power of God is there to change me, set me free, and build me a new life, with a rock-solid foundation.

Lord, I’m not finding this easy, even though You’ve made it so gloriously simple. Give me the grace to recognize where I’m still wrong, to bring it to You for forgiveness, and trust You for the help I need. And thank You for promising to do just that! Amen.

Pastor Dan Giles