““Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”” Matthew 7:21, 24-27 (NLT)
This is the basic teaching we give to the children when they are in the Sunday School. We tell them with songs and demonstrations but let us not leave there as if it is kindergarten stuff. Jesus was very serious about how we got to learn and obey; otherwise we cannot enter the kingdom of God. By grace we are accepted into the kingdom of God but we are supposed to get power by the Holy Spirit and obey all the teachings of Jesus.
Be the Wise Person: John 6:66-69(NLT)
Many stopped following Jesus because they found the teachings are difficult to follow. The twelve disciples leaving their world behind them followed and obeyed Jesus and were with Jesus for the wonderful words He spoke to them. Yes, wise people should try their best to follow all the Lord Jesus told us to do without exempting any. These are the followers the Lord would love to have fellowship with and use them as honourable vessels.
Be not the Foolish Person: 1 Corinthians 15:17-19(NLT)
It is the obeying and doing part nobody likes nowadays. People want the Lord to bless them always and it should happen to them automatically; whereas they will be careless and be involved in rebellious acts and stubbornness. This is foolishness if you come to Jesus only for worldly blessings and not worry about eternal life. The Lord God operates always in rules and regulations, and if He doesn’t the whole universe will collapse. So it is the same to us, if we are not obeying God’s instructions.
“But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”” 1 Samuel 15:22-23 (NLT)