No. 282 - Doing the Will of the Father

The Obedience of God’s Will

Doing the Will of the Father

Matthew 7:21 (ESV)

"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."

Starting Prayer

Dear Lord, please give me wisdom and understanding as I seek to do Your will. Help me to follow Your commands and live a life that pleases You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Background

Matthew 7 is part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, where He teaches about the principles of God's kingdom. In verse 21, Jesus emphasises that true discipleship is not about mere words or outward appearances but about doing the will of the Father. This verse concludes the week's theme by stressing the importance of obedience in our relationship with God.

Be Encouraged

It's easy to call Jesus "Lord" with our lips, but true obedience requires action. Consider a child who promises to clean their room but never does. Their words are meaningless without follow-through. Similarly, our declarations of faith must be backed by our actions. Jesus warns us that only those who do the will of the Father will enter the kingdom of heaven.

Obeying God's will involves more than just knowing His commands; it means living them out in our daily lives. Think of a gardener who plants seeds and diligently tends to them. The effort put into nurturing the plants results in a fruitful harvest. In the same way, when we actively pursue God's will, we experience spiritual growth and bear fruit that glorifies Him.

Application

Reflect on these verses: James 1:22, "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves," and John 14:23, "Jesus answered him, 'If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.'"

Invitation

If you have not yet committed your life to Christ, I invite you to visit any nearby Church of Christ to be assisted in obeying the gospel of Christ: through faith (Hebrews 11:6), repentance from sin (Acts 2:38; 17:30-31), and baptism for the forgiveness of all past sins to be saved (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). The Lord will add you to His church, where you can continue to learn and grow in your relationship with Him (Matthew 28:18-20).

For those already in Christ, let us strive to do the will of our Father in heaven. Let our lives be a testament to our faith, demonstrating obedience in all we do. Share this message with your loved ones and encourage them to act on God's Word daily.

Concluding Prayer

Lord, thank You for the reminder to do Your will. Help me to live out Your teachings each day, bringing glory to Your name and blessings to those around me. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

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May the Lord bless your day.

Theodore J. Quist
Evangelist
Church of Christ
Abokobi - Accra
Ghana

 

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