Kojo sat in church, listening to the lady pastor’s sermon. The topic was familiar, following Jesus. Kojo had been attending church for years, serving on the usher team, singing in the choir, and even occasionally helping with outreaches. From the outside, he seemed like the perfect example of a dedicated Christian.

But deep down, Kojo knew something wasn’t right.

Lately, he had been feeling a disconnect between his faith and his everyday life. He prayed on Sundays and sang worship songs, but his Monday-to-Saturday life looked very different. At work, he often cut corners to meet deadlines. At home, he rarely spent time in prayer or reading the Bible. He was kind to people when it was convenient, but if anyone crossed him, he’d hold a grudge for weeks.

As lady pastor Lisa read from Matthew 7:21, Kojo felt a lump form in his throat:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

The words hit him hard. He had been saying all the right things, singing “Lord, Lord” every Sunday, but was he truly doing the will of God?

That evening, Kojo couldn’t shake the lady pastor’s message. He opened his Bible and read Matthew 7:21 again, letting the words sink in.

He thought about his faith. He had always assumed that going to church, volunteering, and being a “good person” was enough. But Jesus’s words made it clear that actions alone weren’t the point, it was about obedience to God’s will.

Kojo began to pray, his voice trembling. “God, I’ve been calling You ‘Lord,’ but I haven’t been living like You’re the Lord of my life. I’ve been going through the motions, doing things for show but not from a heart of obedience. Please forgive me. Help me to truly follow You, not just in words, but in my actions.”

Kojo knew he couldn’t keep living the way he had been. He started by asking himself a tough question: What is God’s will for my life?

He remembered the words of Jesus in Matthew 22:37-39:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind… Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Kojo realized that doing God’s will meant putting Him first in every area of his life and letting that love overflow into how he treated others.

He began making small but meaningful changes.

• At work, instead of cutting corners, Kojo committed to doing his tasks with integrity, even if it meant staying late or putting in extra effort.
• At home, he carved out time each morning to pray and read Scripture, asking God to guide his day.
• In his relationships, he worked on forgiving people who had hurt him, letting go of grudges, and showing kindness even when it wasn’t easy.

One day, Kojo faced a difficult situation. A coworker, John, had made a mistake on a project that cost the company money. The manager assumed it was Kojo’s fault and harshly reprimanded him in front of the whole team.

Kojo was furious. His first instinct was to lash out and blame John. But as he sat at his desk, Jesus’s words from Matthew 7:21 echoed in his mind:

“Only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

He prayed silently, “God, help me to respond the way You want me to.”

Instead of retaliating, Kojo approached John calmly after the meeting. “Hey, I know the mistake wasn’t mine, but I’m not going to throw you under the bus. Let’s figure out how to fix this together.”

John looked at him in shock. “I thought you’d be mad,” he said.

“I was,” Kojo admitted. “But I’m trying to live the way Jesus taught us to, by showing grace.”

That moment became a turning point, not just for Kojo, but for his relationship with John. Over time, John began asking Kojo questions about his faith, and Kojo had the chance to share the Gospel with him and also got him saved.

Months later, Kojo felt a deep sense of peace that he hadn’t known before. He still attended church and served in ministry, but now he was doing it with a heart focused on God, not just to check a box.

He realized that saying “Lord, Lord” wasn’t about lip service, it was about a life of genuine faith, lived in obedience to God.

Kojo’s story reminds us that following Jesus is more than just words or outward actions. It’s about aligning our hearts with God’s will and living in obedience to Him.

Jesus challenges us to examine our lives: Are we saying “Lord, Lord” without truly following Him? Are we seeking to do His will in every area of our lives, at work, at home, and in our relationships?

True faith isn’t about appearances; it’s about a heart surrendered to God, reflected in how we live.

May you go beyond words and live a life that reflects true faith and obedience to God. When challenges arise, may you seek His will above your own and trust Him to guide your steps. May your actions and your heart align with His purpose, so that you may hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21

Heavenly Father, thank You for calling me to follow You. Forgive me for the times I’ve called You ‘Lord’ with my words but not with my actions. Teach me to seek Your will in every area of my life and to live in obedience to You. Help me to love You with all my heart, soul, and mind, and to love others as You have loved me. In Jesus Name, Amen.

May your life be a testament to the power of living for God, not just in words, but in the way you walk with Him every day.