“If anyone loves me he will keep my word and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words.’” John 14:24
What in the world does “Old Blue-Eyes” and his hat have to do with today’s devotional? It’s all about names. Many would call that thing on Frank Sinatra’s head a fedora, but it is not. It’s a trilby - Frank’s preferred lid. Fedoras have a wider brim and higher crown (the “uppy” part) and are made to be worn lower on the head like Bogie below.
Any brimmed hat with a peak is not a fedora, just as anyone who has a baptismal certificate or claims to be Christian is not a Christian: never darkening the door of a church or showing up only at Easter and Christmas1, living according to the world2, and seeing the congregation at a club rather than part of the body of Christ3. All these things contradict Christ's commands to those who follow him. Do such people really “believe” and “trust” in Him if they are not obedient? Well, that is something they must answer for themselves … about themselves. Each must ask this question always.4 There is always a danger of following the world rather than The Word.
People can call a trilby a fedora, but that doesn’t make it a fedora.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank you for giving me your Word. Give me the humility to examine my heart daily. Forgive me when I fail to follow your commands. Lord Holy Spirit, lead me back to right pathways so I might follow Jesus as He calls me to follow Him. In His precious name, I pray. Amen.
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42
2 Do not be conformed to this world,[a] but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2
17 But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church. 1 Corinthians 11:17-18
5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! 2 Corinthians 13:5
10 Therefore, brothers,[a] be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1: 10-11