“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matt. 7:22-23
Today’s Christian daily devotional
“Don’t leave me. You are the only good thing in my life.” I looked down at the crumpled creature that had fallen to his knees and was now clinging desperately to my skirt. His unshaven cheeks were sprinkled with tears.
This exact encounter had occurred numerous times and was increasing in frequency over the years. I felt his grasp getting heavy on my hands. I let mine go limp to release his hold on me.
I remember a time when I actually believed the words that he spoke with such conviction. Because of those words, I had given up so much of myself—in the name of love. My needs, dreams and vision for happiness faded into the background. They became overshadowed by Eddie’s growing dependence on me. I had a hard time letting him down, even if it meant I had to let myself down.
Today was different. Something about the pitch of his cry, the desperation in his voice or maybe it was his look of fear, registered as instant clarity for me. For the first time I saw clearly. Eddie was actually crying for himself, not for me.
He tore at my waist, because I refused to grab his outstretched hands. He worked all of the maneuvers that he had perfected on me over the bumpy ride of our relationship. For seven years he knew just what to say and how to push my buttons to get me to stay. Today, I set my jaw and kept my eyes focused on the window in front of me.
The world outside that window represented a whole new universe of opportunity. It did not look scary and looming anymore, like Eddie had always portrayed any place without him would be. My heart soared at the thought of a new beginning without heavy strings attached.
My eyes flickered from that window of hope to the moaning heap of flesh on my kitchen floor. For the first time I saw Eddie objectively, almost clinically.
He bore little resemblance to the person I was at one time completely enamored with. Although his muscular body was large enough to be considered a man, he was anything but that for me. Eddie was a child. This charismatic charmer connived me into financially supporting him during his temporary “rough patch” of not being able to find work. His “rough patch” lasted the whole seven years we were together. He put my heart through the ringer by cheating on me, lying to me, stealing thousands of dollars from me and squandering my earnings on drugs during the course of our relationship.
Eddie needed a savior and he clung to me as if I were the only thing that could save him. No human had the capacity to fill those needs. God knows I tried. His needs were ever changing, always grasping for more and more of what I no longer had the capacity to give. He had sucked the well of my heart dry.
I fell out of love with Eddie long before I had the courage to actually leave him. I stayed as long as I did because I thought he really loved me; and I was so desperate to just be loved. But, when I saw that look of panic instead of passion flash across his eyes, I knew he was not fighting for love.
Many preachers are like Eddie in a way. They are very wise in Bible knowledge, have graduated from the most prestigious universities and seem to always know the proper things to wear and speak.
But, their inner life is rotten to the core. They have no desire to really serve God. They don’t truly love God. If they did, hurting God knowingly would be something they would be sensitive enough to avoid like the plague.
Loving God means one thing—you will defend that love and hate anything that would hurt the God you worship. Matt. 7:22-23 is a very scary revelation. It should make every heart that thinks they love God, look past their “good deeds” and see whom they really serve. What is your motive? Only God knows, but He is the only one that really matters anyway.
“Dear Heavenly Father,
I am stepping away from myself for a moment. I want to see things clearly, objectively. I am asking for you to wash my mind with that clarity.
Whom do I serve? I read Matt. 7:22-23 and it puts the fear of God into me. There will be many false prophets and many people deceived into thinking just because they have done “good deeds” that it will be enough to enter into your eternal kingdom. Lord, this verse is a warning against self-deception.
Expose the lies I have told myself to feel better in the moment. I know the truth is often painful but it is the only thing that will set me free. Open up the windows of opportunity, as I let go of the dead weight that has been holding me back…the lies I have been telling myself.
There is great freedom in you. I embrace that freedom with my whole heart. In Jesus’ precious name, help me to be sincere every day of my life in my walk with you. My life will never be a “nice” show of religious activity, but it will be a real display of a flawed human struggling to become a bit more like God everyday. Amen.”
Thank you for reading today’s daily devotional on: Matthew 7:22-23.
Please check back and see what we have for you tomorrow!
Author: Julia Shalom Jordan