The Voice of Jesus – Faith and Action

Over the last couple of posts, we have been looking at faith – and our response to faith, which is our actions. Before we wrap this one up, I just want to take a quick listen to the voice of Jesus.

“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.”
(Matthew 7:21 ESV)

I think that is pretty clear! We can’t just proclaim with our mouths that Jesus is Lord (for many do so). We must then follow that through by obedience to God!

“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you.”
(Matthew 21:28-31 ESV)

This again is Jesus speaking at another time and another place. Words mean nothing – my writing here indeed means nothing – it is my obedience before God to do His will that is what matters! It is not me proclaiming with my lips that I have faith – but me showing through my actions that same faith.

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”
(Luke 6:46-49 ESV)

And those of you familiar with your Bibles were probably wondering when that parable would come up. Yes, we need to build our foundation on the Rock of Jesus – but doing what we are called to do!

A short post today, but take some time to meditate and hear the voice of Jesus. Read through those passages again, and let the Word of God work in you. In our next post we will wrap this one up with some final comments!