A friend asked me what my plans were for the weekend. Then they answered for me saying, I know it's Easter, you'll be in church Sunday.
A young woman asked Jesus a similar question. She questioned whether she should worship in the city or on the mountain. Jesus answered her that "the time had come where you worship in spirit and in truth. This is the worship that God is looking for." (John 4)
If you worship in church and enjoy it, great. However, you do not need to be in a building with the word church on the outside to worship God. And, you can worship God on the other six days of the week.
When you are born again, the Spirit of God comes to live with you, and in you. Then your life, how you live, becomes worship to God. With the help of the Spirit, God makes you more like himself. God is always able to see your life, and how you live. This is the truth, in worship (living) that God is looking for.
I actually spent this Sunday morning enjoying a walk with my wife. We talked, held hands and spent time together knowing that the work of the upcoming week will take time away from us. We worship together and help each other grow spiritually. And we stay close as a family. Not perfect, but working on it. And more importantly, allowing God to work on us. Try as we might, we can really effect no change spiritually on ourselves. We can go through the motions and give all the outward appearances of spiritually. However, it is only God that provides the inward changes towards 'Christlikeness.' This is the spirit and truth in worship, a changed life.
I know this a big weekend for church. As we walked, we noticed the street all parked up around the churches in the area. Church attendance must have doubled today. Sadly, this attendance is just a part of the Easter ritual. Dress up, get gifts, eat chocolate and drag everyone to church. My prayer is that everyone will really seek Jesus today. Because if they do, He will answer them. It is God's desire to have a true relationship with us. He created us in his image to love us, care for us and relate to us, eventually to have us live with Him in heaven.
God created everyone in His image. He loves you. Black, white, gay, young, old, rich or poor. God loves you. Seek God today in truth. Worship Him with your life. God is looking for you today. Call out to Him, "here I am." And God will come to you. I pray for you to truly have a relationship with God today. He will love you and care for you. And I promise your life will be wonderfully transformed. God bless you.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Relationship, not religion
This is what I know about our relationship with Jesus...............
How do you get into Heaven. The answer from a young Sunday School student is..........you have to be dead. Now that is a basic answer!
But really, what must you do? Here is a basic response................
Must you follow the laws?
No.
Must you follow the rules?
No.
Must you be accepted by the majority?
No.
Must you be accepted by "the church"?
No.
You must believe in Jesus. He is who He says He is. Believe that He died for you, paying the punishment for all sin.
Grace, forgiveness, is a gift from God through Jesus Christ. A gift. It is not earned. Grace is not given after you obey the laws, follow the rules, fall into the majority or are accepted into a church.
Christ says to come and follow Him. He does not say to go and stop doing anything, or start doing something. He simply says "follow me".
Why? Because God loves you. He created you. He formed you in the womb. He made you, he knows you and He loves. He loves you right now. Knowing who you are right now, He loves you. Even if you don't, He does. He loves you. If fact, in Christ, He says you, are His Masterpiece. You are His greatest work. He made you and then stepped back and said, "perfect". Masterpiece, couldn't do any better, just what I wanted.
One more thing I know. It's that Christ wants a relationship with you. Right now, just as you are. Begin that relationship today. Or, renew it today. Or, strengthen it today. Not works, changes, promises to be better or anything else. Just a relationship. Just start talking to Him. He already knows you and is waiting to get closer.
Simple, basic, but true.
Gal 2:20; John 3:16, Job 31; Psalm 139:13-14; Eph 2:10
How do you get into Heaven. The answer from a young Sunday School student is..........you have to be dead. Now that is a basic answer!
But really, what must you do? Here is a basic response................
Must you follow the laws?
No.
Must you follow the rules?
No.
Must you be accepted by the majority?
No.
Must you be accepted by "the church"?
No.
You must believe in Jesus. He is who He says He is. Believe that He died for you, paying the punishment for all sin.
Grace, forgiveness, is a gift from God through Jesus Christ. A gift. It is not earned. Grace is not given after you obey the laws, follow the rules, fall into the majority or are accepted into a church.
Christ says to come and follow Him. He does not say to go and stop doing anything, or start doing something. He simply says "follow me".
Why? Because God loves you. He created you. He formed you in the womb. He made you, he knows you and He loves. He loves you right now. Knowing who you are right now, He loves you. Even if you don't, He does. He loves you. If fact, in Christ, He says you, are His Masterpiece. You are His greatest work. He made you and then stepped back and said, "perfect". Masterpiece, couldn't do any better, just what I wanted.
One more thing I know. It's that Christ wants a relationship with you. Right now, just as you are. Begin that relationship today. Or, renew it today. Or, strengthen it today. Not works, changes, promises to be better or anything else. Just a relationship. Just start talking to Him. He already knows you and is waiting to get closer.
Simple, basic, but true.
Gal 2:20; John 3:16, Job 31; Psalm 139:13-14; Eph 2:10
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