Daily devotion – Bible less people in Church pews.
Matthew 7:21–23
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”
Jesus speaks here with sobering clarity: not every religious act, not every spiritual claim, not every outward display means a person belongs to Him. The defining mark of a true believer is not merely words or works, but a life surrendered to the will of God. A lifestyle of lawlessness and sin reveals unbelief, not salvation.
The Apostle John ties this truth to our anticipation of Christ’s return:
“And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:3).
Those who truly long for Christ’s appearing will seek to live in holiness now. Their hearts and habits will reflect their hope.
But how do we guard our lives from deception and drift? By being people of the Word. It is a troubling trend that many who attend church services do so without a Bible in hand. If God’s Word is absent from our gatherings, there is little chance it will be central in our homes, workplaces, or schools.
False teachers find easier ground in congregations that are Bible-less. But a church filled with believers who, like the Bereans, “examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11), is a church fortified in truth.
There is a very real joy when a pastor says, “Let us open our Bibles to…” and the sound of pages turning fills the room. It is a sound of faithfulness, a declaration that the Word of God is our authority, our guide, and our delight.
This week, let us recommit to being people of the Book. Carry your Bible to church, open it in your home, and measure everything you hear against it. In a world full of spiritual counterfeits, the Word of God remains the one true light.
Prayer:
Lord, keep me from being deceived by empty religion or outward appearances. Plant in me a hunger for Your Word and a desire to live in obedience to Your will. Make me like the Bereans—eager, watchful, and grounded in truth. May my life reflect the purity and hope that is found in Jesus Christ alone. Let me carry my Bible with me at all times. Amen.