MGD: Are You Known by the Lord?

Shalom, beloved. You are welcome to today's episode of our

Morning Glory devotion from the Harvest Chapel International, Denyame Kumasi.

Let us kindly share a word of prayer. Our Heavenly Father, praise, glory,

and honor be unto your holy name. We thank you

for the blessing of a new day. As we prepare

to hear your word, we invite your Holy Spirit to

guide us. Please open our hearts and our minds and

let your presence illuminate our understanding in Jesus' mighty name. Amen.

Let us kindly take our confession for today from Joshua 1,

Joshua 1:8

verse 8. Joshua 1.8 This book of the law shall

not depart from my mouth, but I shall meditate in

it day and night, that I may observe to do

according to all that is written in it. For then

I will make my way prosperous, and then I will

have good success. Amen. Today's message is titled, Are You

Known by the Lord? Are you known by the Lord?

Written by Mr. and Dr. Mrs. Achampon, A.J. Our scripture

reading shall be taken from Matthew chapter 7, the verse

Matthew 7 · chapter mention

21 to 23. Matthew 7 from 21 to 23. I

will be reading from the New King James Version. 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.

The Lord add his blessings to the reading and hearing

of this word. Thanks be to God. Amen. Are you

known by the Lord? Are you known by the Lord? Recently,

I had a conversation with a colleague about something that

happened at a barbering salon. Some prominent people we happened

to work with came in, recognized him, and walked over

to speak with him. He was genuinely excited that people

of such standard knew who he was and took the

time to greet him. We laughed about it together. But

as I walked home, it stayed on my mind. There

is something about being known by important people that makes

us feel special. Just hearing that someone influential knows your

name can give you a sudden quiet sense of importance.

Then I thought about the Lord. If being recognized by

people of status can bring such a thrill, how much

more should it mean to us that God knows us?

And do we actually care whether he knows us? Jesus

leaves us with a sobering picture in Matthew chapter 7.

Matthew 7 · chapter mention

He speaks of a day when some will stand before

him pointing to all the busy active things they did

in his name. They will recount their works and spiritual experiences,

yet Jesus will look at them and say, I never

knew you. Those words are frightening because these were not outsiders.

They were involved in things associated with his name, yet

there was no genuine living relationship with him. They wanted

his power and his platform, but they had not truly

sought his heart. That ought to make all of us pause.

As Christians, we can spend so much energy wanting people

to notice us, to praise us, and to appreciate our labor,

while giving very little attention to whether we truly walk

with the Lord. We can be respected in our communities,

active in our churches, and yet still need to ask,

does Christ truly know me? And this is not only

a question for Christians. If you have never surrendered your

life to him, where do you stand today? You may

know facts about Jesus, attend Christian gatherings, or even admire

the faith, but are you known by him? And do

you even care if he does? Beloved, At the end

of our days, it would not matter how many influential

people knew our names. What will matter entirely is whether

Jesus knows us. The recognition of people is temporal, but

being known by Christ is eternal. May we therefore not

spend our lives seeking the applause of men while neglecting

our relationship with God. May we come to know him

walk with him and live in a way that reflects

that we truly belong to him. And when our earthly

journey is over, may we hear him say, well done,

good and faithful servant. May our greatest joy not be

that important people knew us, but that Jesus knows us

and we know him. God richly bless you. Amen. Let

us kindly take our memory verse for today. Our memory

verse for today is taken from Matthew 7, verse 23.

Matthew 7:23

Matthew 7, verse 23. I will be reading from the

Matthew 7:23

New King James Version. And then I will declare to them,

I never knew you. Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.

And then I will declare to them, I never knew you.

Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness. Amen. Let us

kindly share a word of prayer. Lord, we thank you

for this truth and this timely reminder. Please forgive us

for the times we have chased the recognition of people

while neglecting our intimacy with you. Search our hearts today.

strip away the empty routines of religion, and draw us

into a genuine living relationship with your Son. When all

earthly tides fade, may we hear you say, Well done,

good and faithful servant. I know you. In Jesus' name. Amen. Beloved,

always remember this. The recognition of people is temporal. But

having a genuine living relationship with Christ and being known

by Him is eternal. God richly bless you for staying

all through today's morning glory devotion. Kindly join us again

for another episode tomorrow morning by God's grace at the

same time. Stay tuned to Radio HCI today for more

spirit-filled content. Stay blessed. Shalom.