God is not a genie in a bottle…

 

Those who are critical of the church and call ‘Christians’ hypocrites may not realize that not all who label themselves with those terms may not be the genuine thing. Jesus warned that those who call Him “Lord, Lord” and did things in His name could be those without a relationship with Him.

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. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:21–23)

While people pray to God for help in trials, or put their faith in Him for protection, healing, and many other things, this may not be saving faith. The following passage explains that some who claim to be believers are actually not His people. It begins with Jesus walking across the water and the crowds following Him and asking why He came there…

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” 

This question is a clue to their motivation. They were more interested in having their physical need for food met than their spiritual need for a relationship with Him.

Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 

Faith is about our eternal destiny, not about having a full belly, or as that implies, the ‘good life’ here and now. It is about trusting Jesus, no matter what.

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:24–40)

Genuine faith is not something anyone can conjure up. We are told to have faith yet it is in what we cannot see — not a full pantry nor the good life, but in Jesus for eternal life. That means dealing with the sin that separates us from a Holy God. Scripture is clear; the offer is made, but without His grace and mercy no one is able to say yes to it…

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. (John 6:44)
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” (John 6:63–65)

PRAY: Lord, Your Word tells me to beware of false teachers whose god is their belly. By tolerant acceptance, genuine Christians so easily get lumped into the ‘false’ category. My task is to be so much like You that I shine like stars in this dark world. Enable me to shine for You this day. Amen.