²¹ “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. ²² On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ ²³ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

Matthew 7:21-23

Dear God, again, I want to take a moment to consider the audience to which Jesus was speaking. He wasn’t speaking to me, although these words apply to me as well. He was coming to the end of his sermon. He was talking to a group of people who…well, I don’t know exactly how they felt, but it seems that they felt inferior to the Pharisees and other Temple leaders. And there were probably Pharisees and other Temple leaders in the crowd. Was the first group encouraged by the thought that they could have access to relationship with you? Were the Pharisees offended by the thought that their work my be for nothing?

As for me, what does it look like for me to do your will? Apparently miracles and casting out demons isn’t enough to make the cut. No, I think following your will starts with the great two commandments: Loving you with everything I have and loving others as myself. Worship and compassion. Repentance and perseverance. You see the state of my heart when I’m here. You know my motives. You know if I’m trying to impress others with miracles or simply praying for them because I care. You know if I’m trying to impress others with my performance or simply doing the best job I can so that you might be glorified. And I’ll confess that sometimes I cross that line into self-aggrandizement. Sometimes I want others to be impressed with me. I’m sorry for that.

Father, a simple little worship song comes to mind as I close this prayer: “Make me a servant, humble and meek. Lord, let me lift up those who are weak. And may the prayer of my heart always be, ‘Make me a servant, make me a servant, make me a servant today.'”

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen