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How Presumptuous

“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 who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ – Matthew 7:21-23

When it comes to relationships I confess to being presumptuous. What I mean by that is I sometimes presume there is more of a relationship than really exists. Sometimes I’ll refer to someone as a friend when in reality they are only an acquaintance…or even just someone I met once at a party for a few minutes. Coming from this skewed perspective I’m sometimes surprised when someone makes it clear to me that we really don’t have the relationship I thought we did, or any relationship at all.

Jesus makes it pretty clear that there are ‘many’ who are presuming a relationship with him that just isn’t there. They speak in his name, even driving out demons and performing miracles. But they don’t know him. The one who Jesus knows does the will of the Father. And the will of the Father is that we be in relationship with him. It’s the sole thing he’s been working on since our fall into sin separated us. It’s the thing Jesus accomplished through his death on the cross. Receiving that gift which is ours by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ through no effort of our own is the Father’s will for us.

Perhaps you’re making every effort to be in a relationship with Jesus. Going to church every Sunday, attending Bible study, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School and evangelizing your friends, co-workers and neighbors. All the while presuming there is a relationship because of what you’re doing. “Away from me, you evildoers!” These are the words of Jesus to those who want to claim their own efforts…laudable as we might think they are…as the proof of a relationship. Consider this; are you working hard to be in a relationship with Jesus or are you living in the relationship that is already yours at a precious price yet freely given?

Prayer
Heavenly Father, keep me from presuming that through any effort of my own I can accomplish a relationship with you. Release me from the burden of having to prove myself to you or anyone else and set me free to serve you and others with the love of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.