May 7 I Thursday
2 Kings 1-3
Luke 24:1-35

“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” —Matthew 22:37-38

Is it possible to be affiliated with the kingship of Christ and not be saved? As terrifying as this question may be, we find that the answer is “Yes” from Scripture. Jesus tells us of this truth through the Parable of the Sower. A sower sowed seeds into a field. Some fell along the paths and birds came and ate them up. Some fell amongst stones and rock and it could not put its roots down so it scorched under the sun. Some grew amongst weeds, which choked the plant.
But some fell into good soil and was able to produce many fruits.
As we examine this parable, we find that there is an element of failure in it. Caught up in the kingdom of heaven are all kinds of people who may not be a genuine Christian. Jesus says, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name and in Your name drive out demons and in Your name perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers!’”
The people Jesus was describing are not out in the periphery checking a box somewhere but people who are doing impressive work. They are not nominal Christians; these people are active. They have prophesied, driven out demons and performed miracles in Jesus’s name.
Some of them could be leaders in ministry but they do not know the Lord and the Lord does not know them. They have deceived themselves.
The Bible warns us that it is possible for a person to be actively involved in the things of God yet not be born again of the Spirit of God. When we look into the context of Jesus’s teachings, He was not only speaking to the disciples but also to a group of Pharisees and Scribes. The Pharisees and Scribes had the Word of God because they quoted it, memorized it, lived by it and even built fences around the laws to make sure they did not break the actual law. But Jesus criticised them, “...I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts” (John 5:42). Like the Pharisees and Scribes, it is possible to have the Word of God in our heads but not have the love of God in our heart. May we soberly examine our own heart and stand before God and ask Him to increase our love for Him.

Prayer: Lord God, I desire to be found in You. I do not only want to have Your Word in my heart but also Your love. Increase my love to You. Thank You, Lord.