Litmus Test

“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. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' (Matthew 7:21-22).

I like how this text follows immediately against the warning to watch for false prophets. Not only should we watch for false prophets, but we should be aware that our own spiritual life can be false.

We might be prophecy in God's name, drive out demons, and even perform miracles but the litmus test for whether our relationship with God is genuine is if we are doing the will of God. What is the will of God?

I think God's most basic test is to treat others well. The litmus test that is given later in the book of Matthew is how we treated the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and those in prison (Matthew 25).

Is my walk with God true or false? How am I treating those who have nothing to give me?