I Am Not Sure, Have We Met?

    One of the more comical moments in Scripture for us (but I’m sure at the time was terrifying for them) occurs in Acts 19:13-16.  Here seven of the sons of Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were attempting to cast out an evil spirit.  Apparently it had become common for some exorcists to try and ride on the coat tails of Jesus and his followers by casting demon in the name of Jesus.  After this man tires to remove the spirit by “Jesus whom Paul preaches”, the demon gives a humorous response.

“"I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?"

     The spirit then uses his power over the man, to use the vernacular, but a major league whooping on the boys. They flee beaten and thoroughly walloped.  It seems their level of connection with Paul and Jesus didn’t give them much respect in the demons eyes.

    There are still lots of folks that like to use Jesus and his followers for their creditability.  They will claim to be working in the same veins as true Christians. They may speak some of the same things and give lip service to the work of Jesus, but when it comes right down to it they are not all affiliated with all with the Lord’s work.

    Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23,

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'.'

    It not about the fact that you spoke about him or claimed that you followed him, or attempted and even accomplished many good things in his name, it comes down to one simple idea. Did you obey him? Did you do his will? A true disciple does what his master tells him to do.

     You can know all about a person and not have ever met them. You can cite all kinds of fact about them, know their likes and dislike, who are their family and friends, where they were born, went to school, where they currently live. You can be in their “fan club”, read all they say, quote everything they ever did, but they won’t know you at all. You have never met.

    The way we can “meet” Jesus is by obeying him.  Only in obedience to his command are we “formally introduced”.  Don’t be one of those that know all about Jesus but he will never know them because they have never obeyed.  Make sure you can be recognized as one of his followers!