One of my morning routines is to have the audio Bible read to me through my Bluetooth earbuds. The scripture that was being read to me was Mtt. 7:21 “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” 22 “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?” 23 “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.“
Sadness was the first feeling that hit me hearing these words. There will be people, which keeps me in question to examine myself, that will actually argue and debate God about calling Him Lord here on earth, telling Him they prophesied in His name. They had enough faith in His name to cast out devils along with other wonderful works done in His name. This has all the appearance of a strong faith people convinced in their own minds of being right with God.
Maybe, their faith was strong enough to believe in God like the devils do, but the difference was the devils tremble at that knowledge James 2:19? Also, there were some people in the scriptures practicing casting out devils in Jesus name and the devils replied, “…Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?” Acts 19:16 God always honors belief and faith in Him, but it seems there is more required than just believing and performing miracles. There is the following of His word.
Could it be these people did not practice 2 Cor. 13:5 “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” Could it be they only accepted part of God’s word and ignored other parts that are crucial to their walk with God not fully accepting Jesus Christ inside themselves? There is a following factor with God. Rom. 8:14 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.“
At this point and time sadness was mixing with a respectful fear in the relationship that I hold with God most dear to my heart. When the audio reached the point of “…I never knew you: depart from me…” Mtt. 17:23 It hit me like a ton of bricks. I love God, His Word, His Spirit, and the daily relationship with Him through Jesus Christ and He said to them depart and He never knew them.
God saved me from such darkness in my mind, heart, and soul. I could not thank Him enough for His living, loving, warm light of salvation and truth. The thought hit me so strong that for me this would be hell within itself before even being sent to the place called hell just hearing the words to depart from me, for I never knew you. This is where the title came from when I said back to the Lord “Jesus, Please Know Me“. I don’t have to go to hell before I already feel hell in hearing those words. Those words are hell within themselves.
I could hear the thief on the cross saying to Jesus, Luke 23:41 “…remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” This was after the thief examined himself accepting he was a sinner receiving his just reward for the evil deeds he had done and that Jesus was innocent of all they had accused him of. I want to hear what the thief heard from Jesus, Luke 23:43“… Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” and not the words of “…I never knew you: depart from me…“.Mtt. 17:23
Two things happen with the thief that I believe we all must daily consider. The thief saw his own condition, confessing it with all honesty, and seeing Jesus for all his purity of serving God could save him. We have the scriptures to see ourselves, to get to know God in all the truth, and all the oneness He wants us to walk with Him.
At this moment He dropped the scripture into my spirit Jn. 17:3 “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” I realize believing and having faith is necessary, but it’s partner is just as equally crucial in ‘knowing‘ the only true God and Jesus Christ finishes the relationship of oneness God desires to have with us. Jesus always knew the will of God as we are to have the same mind set.
It is absolutely horrible placing yourself in the crowd using all the power of the imagination of those people standing before Him and hearing them say, Mtt. 7:22 “…Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?” Then the voice of the Lord coming back in response with 23 “…I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” I catch my breathe exhaling slowly with all my spirit, “Jesus, Please Know Me“.
Mtt. 25:31 “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:” 32 “And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:” “Jesus, Please Know Me“
Sheep and goats have a similar appearance on the outside, but are truly and completely different on the inside. Help us, Jesus to follow you in all truth and changing ourselves to matching your word as close as we can. I try to continually change my ways into the more truth I find in the word of God taking my faith and putting it in an action of following in obedience.
As an example, I saw in the scriptures they baptize in Jesus name only for the washing away of sins because the blood of atonement and forgiveness is inside the name of Jesus only. I was baptized in the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, which are titles of status and not a name. I got re-baptized in Jesus name applying the Lamb’s blood of God washing away all my sins.
I was told, if you just believe the Holy Spirit will automatically dwell inside your heart, but the scriptures say, Acts1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you…” Acts 2:39 “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” God scripturally gives us a sign we have received His spirit Acts 2:4 “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” This is a very intimate bonding with God that our believing alone is not enough without the power of His Spirit.
“Jesus, Please Know Me” is more than just believing in God. It is a combination of believing and obeying His word in all truth to be true worshippers of God Jn. 4:24. Obedience is the starting point of going beyond believing only and the foundation to start building upon in your life starts with obeying this scripture:
Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.“
Start your journey of “Jesus, Please Know Me” by 2 Cor. 13:5 “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” Don’t be the one who debates with God saying you did all these things in his name all the while the lack of following the way of God more perfectly becomes your hearing God say to you, depart from me for I never knew you.
JESUS, PLEASE KNOW ME