Known By God

THE DAILY WORD
By Jim Seekamp

Tuesday July 14, 2009

Matthew 25:1-12 (NIV) (Jesus speaking)
1. "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.
5. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6. "At midnight the cry rang out: `Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' 7. "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8. The foolish ones said to the wise, `Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 9. "`No,' they replied, `there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'
10. "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11. "Later the others also came. `Sir! Sir!' they said. `Open the door for us!' 12. "But he replied, `I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'

The most important part of this story is the very last reply: the confirmation that those who didn't have enough oil were not known by God!

Jesus also told of other people He did not know:

Matthew 7:22,23 (NIV) (Jesus speaking)
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. Away from me, you evildoers!'

So who are these people who are not known by God?

First of all, it seems apparent from these last verses in Matthew 7 that these people must be believers, since they prophesied in Jesus' Name, drove out demons, and performed miracles. But another story from the Bible tells us that is not necessarily true:

Acts 19:13-16 (NIV)
13. Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." 14. Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.
15. One day the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" 16. Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

Yes, there were UNBELIEVERS in that time, who drove out demons in Jesus' Name, who were NOT Christians! These sons of Sceva were sons of the Jewish chief priest, and were OPPOSING Paul and his message! Yet they apparently had had some success driving out demons in the Name of Jesus! Verse 13 says they "WENT AROUND DRIVING OUT EVIL SPIRITS!" Verse 14 confirms they "WERE DOING THIS!" (Using the Name of Jesus)

Evidently it took the evil spirits some time, after Jesus arose from the dead and disarmed them, to realize that unbelievers had no authority over them! But when they realized this, they began to resist being driven out!

So we know that those who did not have enough oil (in the story Jesus told) could very well have been unbelievers who were probably the equivalent of "church-goers" who never accepted Jesus Christ as Lord!

So, once again... who is it that is not known by God?

1 Corinthians 8:3 (NIV)
But the man who loves God is known by God.

Isn't that simple? Do you want to be known by God? If you love Him, then you are ALREADY KNOWN by Him!!

Paul confirmed to the Galatians they they were KNOWN BY GOD:

Galatians 4:8,9 (NIV)
8. Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9. But now that you know God-- or rather ARE KNOWN BY GOD-- how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?

Notice that these Galatians were just as mistake-prone and human as you and I; they were turning back to the weak and miserable principles of the law, just as many do today! Yet they were known by God! Why? Simply because they were believers! Paul wrote his letter to the BELIEVERS in Galatia!

Galatians 1:1,2 (NIV)
1. Paul, an apostle-- sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead-- 2. and all the brothers with me, To the churches in Galatia:

Romans 10:9,10 will never go away; there is no other way to be saved than to believe that God raised Jesus from the dead and confess that Jesus is Lord!

Romans 10:9,10 (NIV)
9. That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

When we get saved, we are born again, and are known by God! We should live our lives without fear-- certain that we are known by God-- simply serving God in whatever capacity He has given each of us individually to do so!

PRAYER
Thank You Father for Your life-giving Word. Thank You for sending Jesus Christ to save me by His work at the cross. Help me to live my life for You with utter confidence, understanding that You know and love me.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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