When was the last time you heard a sermon on more than one subject? While I was reading the Sermon on the Mount today, I found way too much to share in one devotion. After all, this is the most famous sermon ever given, telling us how to live lives that are pleasing to God. I would like to share some of what I gleaned today, hoping you might be blessed.

Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Matthew 7:23 (NIV)

There’s probably nothing more terrifying to the Believer than imagining the Lord telling them to depart from Him. I know it’s not something I want to hear. How can we avoid hearing Jesus utter those horrible words to us?

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

Matthew 7:24 (NIV)

The words Jesus is referring to are everything He’s just taught during the Sermon on the Mount. Does this mean we have to do all of these things to be saved? We’re saved by works and not faith?

Not at all. Let’s take a look at Scripture and see what it says.

And he said to the human race, “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.”

Job 28:28 (NIV)

When we revere God and understand who He is, we don’t want to do evil things anymore.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.

1 John 2:15 (NIV)

This means we don’t love the spirit of the world. Sure, we can love sunsets, dogs, cats, our parents, and all sorts of other things. If we love how the world does things, then the Spirit of God isn’t in us.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

Sometimes we focus more on the old here than the new, as I wrote about the other day in Cityscapes. However, if you claim to be in Christ and yet nothing is different about how you think, feel, talk, or act, then maybe you’re not where you think you are?

But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.

James 2:18 (NIV)

When we believe in something our actions show it. You don’t say you support one political party and yet always vote for another, do you? We show our faith by how we think, feel, talk, and act.

Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.

1 John 3:15 (NIV)

There’s no hurt like church hurt. David wrote:

If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were rising against me, I could hide.
But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God, as we walked about among the worshipers.

Psalm 55 12-14 (NIV)

Although we may be in anguish over another brother or sister and their behavior, we cannot hate them. How can the same Spirit that resides in us both hate itself unless it’s not in us?

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:21 (NIV)

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us our treasure and our hearts are located in the same place. Our treasure isn’t just money. Money can always be replaced, but something like our time cannot. We can look at our bank accounts and see where the money goes, but where does your time go?

We can have works without salvation, but we cannot have salvation without works, because our works reveal the Spirit inside. However, there are still people who believe they will be saved by their works.

Some may see the Bible as a book full of rules on how to behave to be saved. I see it as a book that tells me how I will behave once my salvation is complete.

You, therefore, will be perfect [growing into spiritual maturity both in mind and character, actively integrating godly values into your daily life], as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 5:48 (AMP)

Do you know God? God knows you, and He loves you. He sees you as significant because you are. No one is insignificant to Him. He’s with you today, right now, and He wants you to know Him. Jesus died for your sins and mine so we could be free of guilt, be freed from death, and live eternally with Him. Eternal salvation is just a prayer away.

Pray this prayer with me to accept the gift of salvation today:

Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, then congratulations! You are on the first step of a brand new life. Allow me to be the first to welcome you to my family, the family of God. There are abundant resources available online for new Christians. You can visit here for more information on what to do next. You can also leave me a comment, and I’ll do my best to help you on the next step of this incredible journey.

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