Matthew 7

“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” (21). Again, Jesus tells us that the Father is looking for people who walk in fellowship and obedience with him, not those who publicly parade their religious identity. He warns especially against being quick to judge the sins of others while ignoring or covering up our own sins (1-5). The Father wants us to live honestly before him: asking for what we need (7-11) and “putting into practice” his commands (24).

“Every good tree bears good fruit” (17). If we invest in our relationship with Jesus and put into practice his ways, good fruit will follow.