Key Thought

While you can fool all of the people some of the time, you can never fool the Lord at any time! False teachers may deceive others, but never the Lord. Substituting proclamations of faith for a life of faith won't cut it. Substituting mighty acts in Jesus' name for living a life of righteousness won't cut it either. Deception, sham, falsehood, manipulation, and hype are works of the Evil One and will be handled as such by the conquering Savior.

Today's Prayer

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Holy Lord, I want to follow you: not just in talk, but also in word and deed. Almighty Lord, I want to reflect your character: not just in Bible study, but also in daily lifestyle. I want to know you by knowing your character, service, and righteousness through living them in my life. In the name of your holy Son, I pray. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

"Enter through the narrow gate {that opens the way to heaven}. The road that leads to hell is a very easy road. And the gate to hell is very wide. Many people enter that gate. But the gate that opens the way to {true} life is very small. And the road to {true} life is very difficult (hard). Only a few people find that road. "Be careful of false prophets. They come to you and look {gentle} like sheep. But they are really dangerous {like} wolves. You will know these people because of the things they do. Good things don't come from bad people, the same as grapes don't come from thorn bushes. And figs don't come from thorny weeds. In the same way, every good tree makes good fruit. And bad trees make bad fruit. A good tree cannot make bad fruit. And a bad tree cannot make good fruit. Every tree that does not make good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. You will know these false people by the fruit they make (things they do). "Not every person that says that I am his Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. The only people that will enter the kingdom of heaven are those people that do the things that my Father in heaven wants. On the last day many people will say to me, 'You are our Lord! We spoke for you. And for you we forced out demons and did many miracles. ' Then I will tell those people clearly, 'Go away from me, you people that do wrong. I never knew you.' "Every person that hears these things I say and obeys is like a wise man. The wise man built his house on rock. It rained hard and the water rose. The winds blew and hit that house. But the house did not fall, because the house was built on rock. But the person that hears the things I teach and does not obey those things is like a foolish man. The foolish man built his house on sand. It rained hard, the water rose, and the winds blew and hit that house. And the house fell with a loud noise." When Jesus finished saying these things, the people were amazed at his teaching. Jesus did not teach like theirteachers of the law. Jesus taught like a person that had authority (power).

— Matthew 7:13-29 (ERV)

Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.