The Words of Jesus Will Judge Every Soul.
Jesus gave us a solemn warning:“He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” John 12:48.
As believers, it is of vital importance that we do not treat the words of Jesus as just mere suggestions to be left to our discretion. They are the very words by which we will all one day be judged by. So it is imperative that we are serious in our care in giving ourselves to His words.
Jesus has left nothing out of His teachings; we are to fully embrace everything, how we are to love, how we are to be ever ready to forgive; we are called to be obedient to keep all of His commandments.
The Father’s will and desire have been unmistakably laid out for our lives, a life that bears fruit, denies ourselves, follows and remains inJesus Christ. We must therefore come back to the words of Jesus and allow them to examine our lives.
It is of paramount importance that we fully understand that as believers, it is not enough to just gain mental assent in knowing the Scripture. The Father did not simply tell the disciples to admire His Son or remember His teaching. He said: “Hear ye Him.”To hear Christ is more than simply listening to His words:
- It is to receive what He says.
- Believe Him.
- And allow His words to direct our lives.
We can know the words of Jesus, quote His words, and speak about His teaching, yet still fail to truly hear Him if we are unwilling to obey what He says. And let us not merely believe His words while continuing to live according to our own will. His words are not given merely to increase our knowledge; they are given to bring us into obedience and to direct the whole course of our lives.
Jesus also said: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”John 14:15. Our response to Christ cannot therefore remain merely in words. If we truly hear Him, His words must reach our hearts and affect the way we live. His teaching must become more than something we read or repeat. It must become something we receive and walk in.
The apostles pointed people away from themselves and towards Jesus. Christ is the One the Father commanded us to hear, and Christ is the One through whom we come to the Father. So the challenge before us is very simple. Are we merely familiar with the words of Jesus, or are we truly hearing Him?
- For it is possible to know His words without obeying them.
- To quote His words without living them.
- And to speak about Him without allowing His words to govern our lives.