Lord, Lord

"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? (Luke 6:46 NIV)

I remember when I moved to lincolnton over 25 years ago. When I'd meet someone new, the first question was not, "where do you work?" or "where do you live?" no, the first question was usually, "Where do you go to church?" it seemed to me that everyone in North Carolina must go to church.

Certainly there is a higher percentage of people who are members of a church here than in South Florida... After all, this is part of the "Bible Belt." but I'm not sure there are more Jesus followers. It's easy to say "Lord, Lord," but it's another thing altogether to try to do God's will in our daily lives.

We can go to church every week, tithe our income to the penny and quote a ton of scripture from memory and still not know Jesus. I see it everyday from those folks who would be the first to ask, "Where do you go to church?"

There are so many "Christians" who are prejudiced, judgmental, negative and just plain mean. They think the fact that they say "Lord, Lord" makes them right. And if they know their scripture, they can be pretty convincing. But remember... Even Satan can quote scripture well and use it to confuse us.

Jesus came to be a living example of what scripture was meant to teach us. If we are not trying to live up to that example, then we are just saying "Lord, Lord." Don't get me wrong...we will always fall short. But if we are really trying to follow Christ instead of just going to church, it will show. Our lives will be transformed and we will hear the scripture-touting, negative, prejudiced, judgemental people for who they are.

It's good to go to church. And it's good to profess our faith in Christ. But if our heart is not a part of it, then it means nothing.

Lord Jesus,
Transform us. Help us to be sure we love you in truth and not just out of tradition. Amen.

Joys: doing some shopping by myself; Holy Week services ready; the beauty is Spring