Doing, Not Just Saying, 'Lord, Lord'
Month 5: Kingdom Living (Part 2) · Loving Others
Today's Scripture
Read together: Matthew 7:21-23 & James 1:22
21 Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 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 perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’ — Matthew 7:21-23
22 Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. — James 1:22
Memory Verse
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”— Matthew 7:24 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Job 41-42; Psalms 1
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Around Day 147 of 365 — Job meets God face to face, and the long story turns to mercy.)The Heart of It
Jesus says something here that should make all of us pause. "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father" (). It is possible to say all the right words. You can call Jesus "Lord," sing the songs, and even do impressive religious things, and still not actually know Him or follow Him. Calling Jesus "Lord" means He is the boss of your life. And you can tell who really means it. Not by how loudly they say it, but by whether they do what He says. James puts it plainly: "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" (). We can fool ourselves into thinking we are following Jesus when really we are just talking about Him.
Now connect this to loving others, today's rhythm. So much of doing the Father's will is plain, practical love. And most of it isn't flashy at all. It's including the kid no one sits with. It's telling the truth when a lie would be easier. It's helping with a chore before being asked. It's forgiving a brother or sister for the third time today. These small acts of love are how "Lord, Lord" becomes real. Anyone can say they love people. Jesus is looking for the family that does it, quietly, every day, even when no one claps. This is not earning our way to God. We are saved by grace, through trusting Jesus. But real faith always has feet. When Jesus is truly Lord, love stops being a word we say and becomes a thing we do.
Around the Table
Saying "I love Jesus" is good. But Jesus wants us to show it by what we do, like sharing and helping.
Let's do it: Don't just say "I love you" to someone in the family. Go do something kind for them right now!
It's easy to talk about following Jesus. It's hard to actually do it when no one is watching. Real love shows up in what we do, not just what we say.
Let's talk: What's one quiet way you could love someone this week that nobody would clap for?
Jesus warns that saying "Lord, Lord" isn't the same as knowing Him. Real faith does the Father's will. And much of that will is everyday love for real people.
Let's go deeper: Where might you be a "hearer only" — agreeing with Jesus about loving others but not actually doing it? Who's one person to start with?
💬 Conversation Starter
Would you rather have a friend who says they'll help you move but never shows up? Or a friend who quietly shows up without being asked?
🛡️ Defending the Faith
Critics point to people who claim Christ but live cruelly. Jesus agrees they are a real problem. He says "I never knew you" to such people. Christianity isn't disproved by fakes. Jesus Himself drew the line between saying and doing ().
For Dad · Go Deeper
These are among the most sobering words Jesus ever spoke. They aim straight at religious activity that never became real love and obedience. Notice He does not say "I never forgave you." He says "I never knew you." The issue is relationship, expressed in a life that actually does the Father's will. We must hold this in our Arminian, gospel-first frame. Salvation is by grace through genuine faith, never earned by works. Yet a faith that produces no fruit, no love, no obedience, is not the living faith that saves. As John Wesley taught, we are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone. It is "faith working through love." For a father, the application is close to home. Your children are watching whether "Lord, Lord" in your mouth shows up as patience, honesty, and sacrificial love in your hands. Let them see a faith with feet.
Draws on: John Wesley, "The Almost Christian" (Sermon 2).
Let's Pray Together
"Father, we don't want to only say we follow Jesus. We want to really do what You ask. Help us love people the way You do. Make our family doers of Your word. Fill us with real, everyday love. In Jesus' name, amen."
Real faith has feet. When Jesus is Lord, love becomes something we do.