Gethsemane Church of All Nations at night, © bibleplaces.com, used by permission.

A SUNDAY KIND OF LOVE

 “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 in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you who behave lawlessly.’”

Matthew 7:21-23

In 1961, Etta James recorded a song called, “A Sunday Kind of Love.” The gist of the song is that she wants a true and honest love that is authentic and lasts for always and is not just for the moment or in name only. In truth, all of us want true and honest relationships with people, not just people who are part-time friends. We want authenticity.

So does God. Jesus is pretty clear that God is not interested in fake friends. These words challenge a surface-level faith. It is possible to say the right things, do lots of good works, and still miss the heart of God. Jesus is saying that relationship is more important than religion.

Authenticity is not about appearing spiritual; it is about being real before God. Religious activity, giftedness, or impressive ministry does not equal obedience to the will of the Father. True faith produces a transformed life that seeks to please God from the inside out. When our public life does not match our private walk with Jesus, we live inauthentically. Words without surrender and works without transformation are meaningless. This is about integrity.

Jesus is not dismissing our good works; instead, He is teaching that our outward actions are not the foundation of our relationship with Him. It does not matter how much we do or how much we study. These things are irrelevant if we do not have connection with the heart of God. We can know a lot about Him and never know Him. We can easily deceive ourselves by thinking we know Him because we study and work hard or always go to church or do lots of good things. A genuine, loving relationship with God is not about saying the right things, doing the right activities, or appearing spiritually strong. A genuine faith is honest and growing, admitting when we struggle, being honest about our doubts and fears, and seeking God for the sole purpose of knowing Him, not to impress others. It is not perfect, but it is transparent and real.

God sees our hearts. He knows if we have “a Sunday kind of love.” We only fool ourselves and we are the ones who lose by being shallow. Knowing Jesus is the greatest thing we could ever achieve. We are valued not for what we do or look like, but for who we are as God’s beloved. Jesus Himself was perfectly authentic. He lived in complete integrity with His words, actions, and heart. Through His grace, we can move from pretending to genuine devotion.

Heavenly Father,

You see us completely, beyond our words and actions into the deepest parts of our hearts, and yet You love us fully. Forgive us for trying to pretend and relying on words or activities or outward appearances rather than a genuine relationship with You.

Draw us closer through Your spirit so that our lives reflect true obedience and honest love. Help us to see ourselves as we truly are, and to know that we are loved by You. Remove the pride within us that leads us to hide and pretend and replace it with humility. Teach us to love as You love, truthfully but tenderly. Transform us from the inside out so that we reflect that love and spread Your kingdom.

Amen.

The best way to strengthen a relationship is to spend time on it. Today, spend time with the Father in prayer rather than studying or anything else. Ask God, “What do You want to show me right now?” Then sit in silence and listen to His creation around you. He is present in every sound, every sight, every moment. Live in His love.

Are you relying more on what you do for Jesus, or on a real, daily relationship with Him? He knows the answer; the hardest part is being honest with ourselves. God meets us most deeply when we come to him as we truly are. In the end, it is not about what we did in His name – it is about whether we walked with Him.