Scripture Reading
Matthew 7:22-23, Jesus warns us that many who call Him “Lord, Lord” won't enter the kingdom of Heaven.
Visit any country with a monarchy and you will find two primary groups of people clustered around the king or queen. The first group is proud of their hard-earned achievements. They've stood the test of scrutiny and passed the examinations common in any environment ruled by protocol. The second group didn't necessarily “earn” their position in the royal court—they were born to it. They enjoy a relationshipwith their national sovereign that no amount of protocol or proper political positioning can produce—they are family.
For this reason, they can do things that would get even the most highly placed protocol-driven diplomat or dignitary into deep trouble. This is true even in the White House.
No diplomat, cabinet head, or congressional leader could enter the Oval Office and begin playing under the President's desk; or lead the President to a toy store display window to point out a desired birthday present. Yet a child, teenager, or spouse can have direct and intimate contact with the leader of the most powerful nation on the planet as long as they have the privileged access available only to close family members.
The greatest danger for Christians who focus on protocol while neglecting relationship is that they may cross the fine boundary between intimate familiarity and casual presumption. This is what Jesus described in Matthew 7:22-23—people who “worked miracles” in Jesus name, but wanted to “live life their way” (a simple definition of “lawlessness”) instead of loving and following Christ in The Way. Presumption seeks the benefits of His presence. True intimacy seeks Him, not merely the benefits, perks, or power associated with His name and title.
Casual presumption offends God, even if we shout out the loudest in public meetings, “Lord, Lord!”
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