As we study the topic of false prophets, it is good to recall Jesus’ words about condemning others: “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged” (Matthew 7.1).
Judgment of others does not eliminate mature discernment, but we do well to first apply Jesus’ words to ourselves.
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns or figs from thistles?
“In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
“Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7.15-20).
The most important thing about us isn’t how we look or what we say we believe. It’s how we act. Our actions are the truest reflection of who we are.
With that in mind, let’s take some time today to reflect on ourselves. Are our actions aligning with the life Jesus would want us to live?
Some Tests
In the passage about judging others (Matthew 7.1-5), Jesus told us we couldn’t remove a speck from another’s eye while having a log in their own.
This reminds us that true self-awareness is the first step in understanding our behavior before God.
In the 1800s, a circuit-riding preacher asked a waitress in an inn to pray this prayer, “Lord, show me myself.”
When he came back through that area, the innkeeper was angry with him. He said, “Whatever you said to my waitress has ruined her life. You have to fix it.”
The preacher found the waitress and said to her, “Now pray this, ‘Lord, show me yourself.'”
Years later, he was walking the streets of London and he encountered a young woman who stopped him and said, “You don’t remember me, but I’m the one you said, ‘Lord, show me myself.’
And then I prayed, ‘Lord, show me yourself.’ When I saw Him, He completely transformed my life.”
We would do well to engage in the preacher’s prayer experiment and see what God does with our lives.
Don’t Talk About It – Be About It
One of my best friends frequently said, “Don’t talk about it, be about it.” Jesus continues the theme of following His will in the next section where He makes the point that when we know Him, we will also act and live by His will.
“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 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?’
“Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you who behave lawlessly'” (Matthew 7.21-23).
The contrast in these verses is between doing God’s will and living as if there were no law.
Both the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount were given not to stifle the good life, but to give us the best life possible. Both of these passages teach us how to live with God and also how to live with other people.
If we would simply follow God’s will, then what we pray for in the Lord’s Prayer, “Your will be done on heaven as it is on earth,” would take place. Heaven would come to earth.
The question is, how can we become people who consistently know and do God’s will?
It is certainly not by screwing up our willpower and trying harder. However, we can practice doing God’s will in small things.
— Meeting with Him for daily times of prayer and Bible reading is one way.
— Practicing small acts of kindness and goodness is another.
— Resisting the little temptations that come our way also helps.
By doing these things, we build up our strength to do better with the larger challenges.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 