“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.”  Matthew 7:21 NLT

Over the last week I’ve been reflecting on the twin themes of relationship and responsibility as they are revealed in God’s Word.  Jesus invites us into relationship with God by way of His grace and truth.  Now we call Him Lord.  In response to being loved by Him, we take up the responsibilities of citizenship in His Kingdom.  Now we seek to do the will of our Heavenly Father.  To reverse the order is poison and is NOT the Gospel.  We do not take up responsibilities in order to gain our identity with Him (That’s religion.)  Rather we receive Him as Lord and accept the responsibilities He gives to us (That’s grace.)  Jesus warns us, we do not really know Him as Lord if we are not also spiritually enabled to desire and to do the will of our Heavenly Father.

“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! ‘Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  Only those who actually do the will of Father in heaven will enter.”  Matthew 7:21