One of the keys to enjoying life is listening to your conscience. God gave us a conscience for a very good reason: to use it. When we are not sure of a certain action our conscience will let us know if we are on the right path. If we believe one thing but do something else, our conscience will not allow us to have peace and contentment.
We need to respond to our conscience while it is still tender and not hardened. You see, over time if you and I don't listen to our conscience it will get harder to respond to it because we are so used to just doing what we want and not listening to our conscience. Can you remember a time in your life when you did something that you knew you shouldn't? How did you feel? You probably didn't have much peace or contentment. But as you kept on doing the action did you notice that you didn't feel bad anymore? The action became easier to do because your conscience became hardened probably to the point of justifying the action. An old illustration talks about how a horse will go wild when it hears a gun shot. But if it is continually around gun shots it doesn't respond as wild anymore. That is a great illustration of how God will try to get our attention through our conscience, and we feel bad, but if we keep on doing the wrong action we don't even notice our conscience trying to tell us the action is wrong.
Billy Graham says, "Most of us follow our conscience as we follow a wheelbarrow. We push it in front of us in the direction we want to go." This is a big mistake. Yet all of us, on occasion, have failed to listen to the voice that God has planted in our hearts. What happened when we did this? We had to suffer the consequences. As I think back over my life I wish I had listened to my conscience more than I did. Oh the trouble I could have spared myself and others. Maybe you can relate. I thank God that even though there were times I had to suffer the consequences for not listening to my conscience, He still has been full of grace and mercy.
Even though there are still times that I don't listen, and mess up and do what I want to do. I would rather go through life listening to God and doing what He wants me to. When I realize I have messed up, I confess to Him and ask His forgiveness and try to respond in obedience. Because I want to have a tender conscience.
So today let's make certain that our actions are guided by God's Word and by the conscience that He has placed in our heart. Josh Billings says," Reason often makes mistakes, but conscience never does." Another thing for us to remember is to not treat our faith as if it were separate from everyday life. God doesn't just speak or guide us at church. He is constantly trying to help us into the right decisions. Let us respond to God's voice. Charles Stanley says, "Your conscience is your alarm system. It's your protection."
Blessed are those who have a tender conscience, but the stubborn are headed for serious trouble.
Proverbs 28:14 NLT
Troy
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
OPINIONS
There are many opinions being expressed today. All you have to do is watch a news channel such as CNN or Fox News to hear people giving their opinions.
Well, there are also opinions about us out there. Some are our opinions of ourselves, and some are opinions that others have of us. One of the keys of life is to decide whose opinion are we going to listen to about ourselves. Sometimes we can be too critical or too lenient in our opinion of ourselves. The same can be true of others opinions about us. So where do we go to get the correct opinion? I have found the Bible to be the truth of life.
We all need to learn to see ourselves from God's point of view. People will always have opinions. That is just how we are. But A. R. Bernard says that the most important thing for us in the context of opinions, is God's opinion of us.
God's love for us is more than we can imagine. In fact, it is too big to comprehend. We do know however that He loves us so much that He was willing to die for us. We also know that when we accept Jesus into our hearts, that He comes and lives inside of us. We also know that He loves us so much that He offers us eternal life with Him.
Even in our challenging times, even though it can be hard to see, God is working in our lives.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28 KJV
God also sees the potential that is inside of us. He sees what we can become because He is the One who created us. Since He sees our potential He never gives up on us. Even when others or maybe even we ourselves have given up on us, He hasn't.
There is a time in the Bible when the nation of Israel, God's chosen people had disobeyed Him and were suffering the consequences of their sin when God spoke these words to them," I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness." (Jeremiah 31:3)
I am pretty sure at that time that Israel was probably thinking that God did not love them. That He had a bad opinion of them. In fact, isn't that how we feel at times when we have blown it with God? We think that He has probably stopped loving us, or has given up on us. But He hadn't stopped loving them, nor has He stopped loving us in those times. Yes, Israel had to live with the consequences of their actions, just as we do. But God had not stopped loving them.
That story from the Bible is an example of why it is so important to read our Bibles. If we don't read the Bible, all we will receive is the world's point of view about us. Nearly everything that is going on around us is telling us that we don't measure up, that were not good enough or that we can't be happy without a certain product. This is why we need to continue to read the Bible and get God's opinion of us.
Now, since God has loved us with an everlasting love, what will we do in response to that love? Will we ignore it or embrace it? The decision, is ours and ours alone to make.
When we embrace God's love, we are forever changed. We begin to feel differently about others and ourselves. When we embrace His love we begin to sense His love for us. Then, when those difficult times come we can hopefully remember to think of God's opinion of us and not others or even our own negative opinions of ourselves.
Troy
Well, there are also opinions about us out there. Some are our opinions of ourselves, and some are opinions that others have of us. One of the keys of life is to decide whose opinion are we going to listen to about ourselves. Sometimes we can be too critical or too lenient in our opinion of ourselves. The same can be true of others opinions about us. So where do we go to get the correct opinion? I have found the Bible to be the truth of life.
We all need to learn to see ourselves from God's point of view. People will always have opinions. That is just how we are. But A. R. Bernard says that the most important thing for us in the context of opinions, is God's opinion of us.
God's love for us is more than we can imagine. In fact, it is too big to comprehend. We do know however that He loves us so much that He was willing to die for us. We also know that when we accept Jesus into our hearts, that He comes and lives inside of us. We also know that He loves us so much that He offers us eternal life with Him.
Even in our challenging times, even though it can be hard to see, God is working in our lives.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28 KJV
God also sees the potential that is inside of us. He sees what we can become because He is the One who created us. Since He sees our potential He never gives up on us. Even when others or maybe even we ourselves have given up on us, He hasn't.
There is a time in the Bible when the nation of Israel, God's chosen people had disobeyed Him and were suffering the consequences of their sin when God spoke these words to them," I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness." (Jeremiah 31:3)
I am pretty sure at that time that Israel was probably thinking that God did not love them. That He had a bad opinion of them. In fact, isn't that how we feel at times when we have blown it with God? We think that He has probably stopped loving us, or has given up on us. But He hadn't stopped loving them, nor has He stopped loving us in those times. Yes, Israel had to live with the consequences of their actions, just as we do. But God had not stopped loving them.
That story from the Bible is an example of why it is so important to read our Bibles. If we don't read the Bible, all we will receive is the world's point of view about us. Nearly everything that is going on around us is telling us that we don't measure up, that were not good enough or that we can't be happy without a certain product. This is why we need to continue to read the Bible and get God's opinion of us.
Now, since God has loved us with an everlasting love, what will we do in response to that love? Will we ignore it or embrace it? The decision, is ours and ours alone to make.
When we embrace God's love, we are forever changed. We begin to feel differently about others and ourselves. When we embrace His love we begin to sense His love for us. Then, when those difficult times come we can hopefully remember to think of God's opinion of us and not others or even our own negative opinions of ourselves.
Troy
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
The True and False Beliefs of "Evil Ways" by Santana
You've got to change you evil ways...
baby
Before I stop lovin you.
You've got to change...
baby
And every word that I say is true.
You got me runnin
And hidin
All over town
You've got me sneakin
And a peepin
And runnin around
This can't go on
Lord knows you got to change
I was driving in the car one day and I heard those lyrics as I was thumbing through different radio stations. Those lyrics are from a song called "Evil Ways" made popular by the band Santana. The basic premise of this song is as follows....relationship, someone in the relationship is not treating the other person right. If the person doing the wrong doing does not change, the other person is going to stop loving them.
I like to try to figure out what the songwriters are saying. What is their view on different topics. What I found interesting about this song is how there are some biblical views in the song. I am also pretty sure the songwriter was not thinking of those views when he wrote the song.
1. There is right and wrong.
The songwriter speaks of "evil ways". So the songwriter believes that there are good and evil ways. What I find interesting about right and wrong or good and bad actions, is that most of the time we know when we are doing wrong or bad actions but we don't always like to admit it.Another thing is, we may not always agree on what is good or bad, but we do know when we have been treated wrongly. Isn't it funny, that those who believe that God shouldn't be a God of judgment want some type of judgment done against the person who has wronged them or someone they are close to.
We also know when someone has been good to us. We may not see it all the time but we do know when someone has been good to us, or to someone else.
The Bible speaks of there being good and evil, and all of our actions being judged:
For God will bring every act to judgment,
everything which is hidden, whether it is
good or evil.
Ecclesiastes 12:14(NASB)
2. The person in the song wants the person to change their actions, and believes they can change.
When we change from bad actions to good actions this is called repentance. The only way we are able to repent of our actions is through the power of God. How many of us have known that we need to stop an action in our life but have not been able to. Many times the reason for that is because we are using our own strength to try and quit instead of relying on God's strength to help us.
Repentance is not just feeling bad for our actions, but it is changing our actions. Many times our actions can bring sorrow upon us, as we regret what we have done, but it doesn't lead to change. God desires to bring us to that point where we go further than just feeling bad, but come to that point where we begin to change.
The Apostle Paul describes a situation like that to some people he wrote to who were involved in some actions that they should not have been:
I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us.
For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but sorrow of the world produces death.
2 Corinthians 7:9-10 (NASB)
3. God doesn't stop loving us.
In this song the person doing the wrong needs to change or else the other person is going to stop loving them. This is a natural human reaction, but I am so thankful that God's love isn't limited like us humans. God has always and always will love us. That doesn't mean that we are always in a right relationship with Him, but He doesn't stop loving us. The lie that many of us believe though, is that because we have done wrong, God has stopped loving us. When we have been disobedient to Him, we need to get back into a right relationship with Him by confessing, and asking His forgiveness, and hopefully turning away from the wrong action. Just as our human relationships can be strained when we treat the other person wrong, so it is in our relationship with God. The big difference though, is that sometimes in our human relationships the other person may stop loving us, but God doesn't. In fact, even when someone has to go to hell for eternity God hasn't stopped loving them, He has simply given them what they wanted, which was an eternity away from God. They have shown by constantly rejecting God in this life, that they wouldn't want to be with God for eternity.
For those of us who want to obey God, but struggle to do the right thing all the time, let us be encouraged that God has not stopped loving us.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39 (NASB)
So the next time "Evil Ways" comes on the radio or on your cd player, remember the truths that are mentioned in the song.
Troy
baby
Before I stop lovin you.
You've got to change...
baby
And every word that I say is true.
You got me runnin
And hidin
All over town
You've got me sneakin
And a peepin
And runnin around
This can't go on
Lord knows you got to change
I was driving in the car one day and I heard those lyrics as I was thumbing through different radio stations. Those lyrics are from a song called "Evil Ways" made popular by the band Santana. The basic premise of this song is as follows....relationship, someone in the relationship is not treating the other person right. If the person doing the wrong doing does not change, the other person is going to stop loving them.
I like to try to figure out what the songwriters are saying. What is their view on different topics. What I found interesting about this song is how there are some biblical views in the song. I am also pretty sure the songwriter was not thinking of those views when he wrote the song.
1. There is right and wrong.
The songwriter speaks of "evil ways". So the songwriter believes that there are good and evil ways. What I find interesting about right and wrong or good and bad actions, is that most of the time we know when we are doing wrong or bad actions but we don't always like to admit it.Another thing is, we may not always agree on what is good or bad, but we do know when we have been treated wrongly. Isn't it funny, that those who believe that God shouldn't be a God of judgment want some type of judgment done against the person who has wronged them or someone they are close to.
We also know when someone has been good to us. We may not see it all the time but we do know when someone has been good to us, or to someone else.
The Bible speaks of there being good and evil, and all of our actions being judged:
For God will bring every act to judgment,
everything which is hidden, whether it is
good or evil.
Ecclesiastes 12:14(NASB)
2. The person in the song wants the person to change their actions, and believes they can change.
When we change from bad actions to good actions this is called repentance. The only way we are able to repent of our actions is through the power of God. How many of us have known that we need to stop an action in our life but have not been able to. Many times the reason for that is because we are using our own strength to try and quit instead of relying on God's strength to help us.
Repentance is not just feeling bad for our actions, but it is changing our actions. Many times our actions can bring sorrow upon us, as we regret what we have done, but it doesn't lead to change. God desires to bring us to that point where we go further than just feeling bad, but come to that point where we begin to change.
The Apostle Paul describes a situation like that to some people he wrote to who were involved in some actions that they should not have been:
I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us.
For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but sorrow of the world produces death.
2 Corinthians 7:9-10 (NASB)
3. God doesn't stop loving us.
In this song the person doing the wrong needs to change or else the other person is going to stop loving them. This is a natural human reaction, but I am so thankful that God's love isn't limited like us humans. God has always and always will love us. That doesn't mean that we are always in a right relationship with Him, but He doesn't stop loving us. The lie that many of us believe though, is that because we have done wrong, God has stopped loving us. When we have been disobedient to Him, we need to get back into a right relationship with Him by confessing, and asking His forgiveness, and hopefully turning away from the wrong action. Just as our human relationships can be strained when we treat the other person wrong, so it is in our relationship with God. The big difference though, is that sometimes in our human relationships the other person may stop loving us, but God doesn't. In fact, even when someone has to go to hell for eternity God hasn't stopped loving them, He has simply given them what they wanted, which was an eternity away from God. They have shown by constantly rejecting God in this life, that they wouldn't want to be with God for eternity.
For those of us who want to obey God, but struggle to do the right thing all the time, let us be encouraged that God has not stopped loving us.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39 (NASB)
So the next time "Evil Ways" comes on the radio or on your cd player, remember the truths that are mentioned in the song.
Troy
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
CH- CH- CH- CHANGES
One of the challenges of life is learning how to deal with change. Most of us don't like change. We like to stay in our comfort zones. But our world is in a constant state of change. Think back over your own life at how much has changed in the world since you've been alive. Think of how many things have changed in your own personal life since ten years ago. Well, even though life and the world and we are in a constant state of change, God isn't. The Bible says, "I am the Lord, I do not change" (Malachi 3:6 NKJV).
When we are facing change, we need to remember that God is far bigger than any difficult change we may be facing. So in those times we need to put our faith in the One who does not change.
We can not stop the changes that come our way. We may try to avert some, but change is always happening around us. Eric Hoffer said,"In a time of drastic change, it is the learners who inherit the future".
Even though change can be scary at times we have to remember that God will allow times of change in our lives so that our trust and faith will be in Him and not in ourselves. Change also helps us to grow as human beings as well as in our relationship with God.
When change comes into our lives let's remember that the Bible says,"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV). Let's also find comfort in the truth that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8 NKJV).
Troy
When we are facing change, we need to remember that God is far bigger than any difficult change we may be facing. So in those times we need to put our faith in the One who does not change.
We can not stop the changes that come our way. We may try to avert some, but change is always happening around us. Eric Hoffer said,"In a time of drastic change, it is the learners who inherit the future".
Even though change can be scary at times we have to remember that God will allow times of change in our lives so that our trust and faith will be in Him and not in ourselves. Change also helps us to grow as human beings as well as in our relationship with God.
When change comes into our lives let's remember that the Bible says,"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV). Let's also find comfort in the truth that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8 NKJV).
Troy
Monday, April 5, 2010
Forgiving Others
One of the challenges of life is forgiving others. Since we are not perfect, most of us are quick to anger, quick to blame, slow to forgive, and even slower to forget. Yet as Christians, we are commanded to forgive others, just as we,too, have been forgiven.
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:31,32 NASB
No, it is not always easy to forgive. Sometimes people do some really hurtful actions against us. But still, we are commanded to forgive. Forgiveness is not easy, if it were, everybody would be doing it.
One reason we need to learn to forgive is because unforgiveness keeps us tied to that offense all of our lives. The other person who wronged you may have moved on with life, but you and I can keep hanging on to that moment as long as we have unforgiveness.
Another reason we need to learn to forgive is because God commands it. Remember, God doesn't gives us commands just because He feels like it. He gives us commands because He knows that they are what are best for us. Since He has given us a command to forgive, He must know the bad results that can come into our lives by having unforgiveness.
Finally, we need to forgive because Jesus forgave us of the wrongs we did to Him. When we look at the issue without using emotion, we see that forgiveness is always the answer. If Christ can forgive all of the horrible things we have done to Him, how can we hold on to unforgiveness against someone else?
If you are having trouble forgiving someone, pray about it... and keep praying about it... until God helps you do the right action. Corrie Ten Boom, who was a survivor of the holocaust said, " Forgiveness is not an emotion. Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart."
Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
Colossians 3:13,14 MSG
Troy
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:31,32 NASB
No, it is not always easy to forgive. Sometimes people do some really hurtful actions against us. But still, we are commanded to forgive. Forgiveness is not easy, if it were, everybody would be doing it.
One reason we need to learn to forgive is because unforgiveness keeps us tied to that offense all of our lives. The other person who wronged you may have moved on with life, but you and I can keep hanging on to that moment as long as we have unforgiveness.
Another reason we need to learn to forgive is because God commands it. Remember, God doesn't gives us commands just because He feels like it. He gives us commands because He knows that they are what are best for us. Since He has given us a command to forgive, He must know the bad results that can come into our lives by having unforgiveness.
Finally, we need to forgive because Jesus forgave us of the wrongs we did to Him. When we look at the issue without using emotion, we see that forgiveness is always the answer. If Christ can forgive all of the horrible things we have done to Him, how can we hold on to unforgiveness against someone else?
If you are having trouble forgiving someone, pray about it... and keep praying about it... until God helps you do the right action. Corrie Ten Boom, who was a survivor of the holocaust said, " Forgiveness is not an emotion. Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart."
Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
Colossians 3:13,14 MSG
Troy
Friday, March 26, 2010
Praying In Vegas
I don't know about you, but many times it feels like I am praying in Vegas. I had that feeling more as a new Christian, but I still get it every now and then. What do I mean by praying in Vegas? It's where you pray, but you really don't know if your prayer is going to be answered. You have no assurance. When someone gambles they don't know whether that slot machine is going to pay off. They don't know what card is coming, or where the ball will land. That is how our prayers can be sometimes. We are just pulling the lever so to speak, or just rolling the dice and hoping they will land on our number. How can we fix this? How can we get more assurance when it comes to praying?
There are many aspects to prayer, but on this post I would just like to help us get started. I would like to help us to get on the right track.
"This is the confidence which we have before Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. (1 John 5:14,15)
The above verses from the Bible tell us that one thing we do to get our prayers answered is to ask according to His will. I guess I could try to simplify this concept by asking you to remember when you were younger and you wanted something. Now the process was usually that you had to go to your parents and ask them. But weren't there times you were more confident you were going to get what you asked for because you knew your request was going to be ok with your parents? On the other hand, weren't there times you weren't sure if you would get your request because you already knew that it might be something that your parents wouldn't go for? You were either asking according to your parents will, or asking not in accordance with your parents will. Then there were times you simply didn't know what your parents will was, so you just asked to find out.
The Bible tells us that if we ask according to God's will, He hears us. Then it goes on to say that since He hears us, He will answer us. So how do we get to know His will? By reading the Bible. When you and I read the Bible we get to know what God is like. It is like spending time with someone. The more time you spend with them, the more you know whether they will do something for you or not.
As I stated earlier there are many aspects to prayer. Even when we pray according to His will, there are times we have to be patient, times it looks like He is not answering but in reality He is. All of that can be for a later time. But on this post I'm hoping to get us on the right track. A safe way is to pray is to pray according to God's will. Spend time with God by reading the Bible and you will begin to learn what His will is. Let me add also that by praying , you learn how to pray.
I hope you will begin to learn what God is like. I hope you and I continue to learn His will. I don't know about you, but I want to pray with some assurance that what I am asking is going to be answered. I don't want to pray Vegas style anymore.
Troy
There are many aspects to prayer, but on this post I would just like to help us get started. I would like to help us to get on the right track.
"This is the confidence which we have before Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. (1 John 5:14,15)
The above verses from the Bible tell us that one thing we do to get our prayers answered is to ask according to His will. I guess I could try to simplify this concept by asking you to remember when you were younger and you wanted something. Now the process was usually that you had to go to your parents and ask them. But weren't there times you were more confident you were going to get what you asked for because you knew your request was going to be ok with your parents? On the other hand, weren't there times you weren't sure if you would get your request because you already knew that it might be something that your parents wouldn't go for? You were either asking according to your parents will, or asking not in accordance with your parents will. Then there were times you simply didn't know what your parents will was, so you just asked to find out.
The Bible tells us that if we ask according to God's will, He hears us. Then it goes on to say that since He hears us, He will answer us. So how do we get to know His will? By reading the Bible. When you and I read the Bible we get to know what God is like. It is like spending time with someone. The more time you spend with them, the more you know whether they will do something for you or not.
As I stated earlier there are many aspects to prayer. Even when we pray according to His will, there are times we have to be patient, times it looks like He is not answering but in reality He is. All of that can be for a later time. But on this post I'm hoping to get us on the right track. A safe way is to pray is to pray according to God's will. Spend time with God by reading the Bible and you will begin to learn what His will is. Let me add also that by praying , you learn how to pray.
I hope you will begin to learn what God is like. I hope you and I continue to learn His will. I don't know about you, but I want to pray with some assurance that what I am asking is going to be answered. I don't want to pray Vegas style anymore.
Troy
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Religion vs. Relationship
Give me rules I will break them
Give me lines I will cross them
The above words are the opening lyrics to a song by Jason Gray entitled "More like falling in love." I think it is a great line to describe how we all are by human nature. If somebody tells you don't do something that is exactly what we want to do. I don't think we want to break the rules, but something compels us to do it.
Well, this is what often happens for us when we decide that we would like to get to know more about God. For some reason, all we see or seem to focus on is what we can and what we can't do. Somehow this wonderful experience of getting to know the creator of the universe turns into rules and regulations. When you read the Bible though this is not what God is after. He is after a relationship with each one of us. Imagine someone marrying you and then asking you ,now what can I do and what can't I do? You would realize this is not what marriage is supposed to be about. It is about enjoying each other, and getting to know each other.
I realize some people use the term "religious" to describe somone who attempts to follow God with their life. I have never been particularily fond of the term but I do understand why people use it.
But when I think of the term "religious" I think of someone who has missed what God desires for us. I think of someone who may go to church on sunday but not really think about God the rest of the week. Now sometimes this is not the person's fault. For some reason there is something inside of us that says," what is the least amount of commitment required of me and still be okay with God."But you can see with that type of thinking why our religious experience never satisfies. How many of us have ever really come to enjoy something without putting all of ourselves into it, or enter into it with passion. Well, the same thing can be said of a relationship with God.
Even though religion without relationship looks attractive it can never lead to what we are looking for. It always leads to disappointment and unfulfillment. It is like a gift beautifully packaged but when you open it there is nothing in it.
When we choose to go with religion without relationship the pressure is on us. Religion without relationship tells me, "If I obey, if I perform, if I do well enough... I will be accepted by God." Matthew Woodley in his book Holy Fools says, "religion always leads to two disastrous alternatives: self righteousness (because I have performed and I am good enough) or guilt and anxiety (because I'm not sure if I've measured up to the rules). This is what Jason Gray is talking about when he says," 'Cause all religion ever made of me was just a sinner with a stone tied to my feet it never set me free." That is what you and I feel like when we don't have a relationship with Jesus but observe religious activities. We never feel free, we never feel good enough.
When we begin to have a relationship with Jesus though, everything changes. Even though we still mess up, we realize we don't have to be perfect because Jesus is. When we hear that voice that says, "you're not good enough." We respond, "you're right, I'm not good enough, but Jesus is and it is in His atoning work for me that I am trusting in."
When we are in relationship with Jesus we are not concerned about keeping rules to try to be good enough we obey out of love. We no longer think about what is the least amount of committment required of me. We want to give our all.
A couple of years ago I took my dad to see the Chicago Cubs for his birthday. A few months before his birthday I saw where you can display someone's birthday on the scoreboard at Wrigley Field. I immediately called up to do this for my dad. It was going to be a surprise for his birthday. Sure, it was going to cost some extra money but I figured it would give him a great memory. Not many people can say that they have had their name up on the Wrigley Field scoreboard. Well, what motivated me to do that? It was love for my dad. It was because my dad and I have a relationship that is important to me. That love for my father didn't make me think, "what is the least amount I can do for my dad on his birthday". No, I wanted to do all I could do for him.
I think the above illustration in a small way describes how our relationship with Jesus should be. Instead of turning our relationship into rules and regulations, we turn it into a love relationship. We do things out of love. We can try to conform to religious rules, but usually we won't last very long. But when we do it out of love, life with God becomes an adventure and "religion" feels right. Our mind set goes from," what do I have to do?" to "what can I do?" We begin to want to do all we can for God, because we are no longer doing it out of obligation, but out of love. That is a difference between religion and relationship.
Here is a link to Jason Gray's "More Like Falling In Love"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rzOdXJu5UA
Troy
Give me lines I will cross them
The above words are the opening lyrics to a song by Jason Gray entitled "More like falling in love." I think it is a great line to describe how we all are by human nature. If somebody tells you don't do something that is exactly what we want to do. I don't think we want to break the rules, but something compels us to do it.
Well, this is what often happens for us when we decide that we would like to get to know more about God. For some reason, all we see or seem to focus on is what we can and what we can't do. Somehow this wonderful experience of getting to know the creator of the universe turns into rules and regulations. When you read the Bible though this is not what God is after. He is after a relationship with each one of us. Imagine someone marrying you and then asking you ,now what can I do and what can't I do? You would realize this is not what marriage is supposed to be about. It is about enjoying each other, and getting to know each other.
I realize some people use the term "religious" to describe somone who attempts to follow God with their life. I have never been particularily fond of the term but I do understand why people use it.
But when I think of the term "religious" I think of someone who has missed what God desires for us. I think of someone who may go to church on sunday but not really think about God the rest of the week. Now sometimes this is not the person's fault. For some reason there is something inside of us that says," what is the least amount of commitment required of me and still be okay with God."But you can see with that type of thinking why our religious experience never satisfies. How many of us have ever really come to enjoy something without putting all of ourselves into it, or enter into it with passion. Well, the same thing can be said of a relationship with God.
Even though religion without relationship looks attractive it can never lead to what we are looking for. It always leads to disappointment and unfulfillment. It is like a gift beautifully packaged but when you open it there is nothing in it.
When we choose to go with religion without relationship the pressure is on us. Religion without relationship tells me, "If I obey, if I perform, if I do well enough... I will be accepted by God." Matthew Woodley in his book Holy Fools says, "religion always leads to two disastrous alternatives: self righteousness (because I have performed and I am good enough) or guilt and anxiety (because I'm not sure if I've measured up to the rules). This is what Jason Gray is talking about when he says," 'Cause all religion ever made of me was just a sinner with a stone tied to my feet it never set me free." That is what you and I feel like when we don't have a relationship with Jesus but observe religious activities. We never feel free, we never feel good enough.
When we begin to have a relationship with Jesus though, everything changes. Even though we still mess up, we realize we don't have to be perfect because Jesus is. When we hear that voice that says, "you're not good enough." We respond, "you're right, I'm not good enough, but Jesus is and it is in His atoning work for me that I am trusting in."
When we are in relationship with Jesus we are not concerned about keeping rules to try to be good enough we obey out of love. We no longer think about what is the least amount of committment required of me. We want to give our all.
A couple of years ago I took my dad to see the Chicago Cubs for his birthday. A few months before his birthday I saw where you can display someone's birthday on the scoreboard at Wrigley Field. I immediately called up to do this for my dad. It was going to be a surprise for his birthday. Sure, it was going to cost some extra money but I figured it would give him a great memory. Not many people can say that they have had their name up on the Wrigley Field scoreboard. Well, what motivated me to do that? It was love for my dad. It was because my dad and I have a relationship that is important to me. That love for my father didn't make me think, "what is the least amount I can do for my dad on his birthday". No, I wanted to do all I could do for him.
I think the above illustration in a small way describes how our relationship with Jesus should be. Instead of turning our relationship into rules and regulations, we turn it into a love relationship. We do things out of love. We can try to conform to religious rules, but usually we won't last very long. But when we do it out of love, life with God becomes an adventure and "religion" feels right. Our mind set goes from," what do I have to do?" to "what can I do?" We begin to want to do all we can for God, because we are no longer doing it out of obligation, but out of love. That is a difference between religion and relationship.
Here is a link to Jason Gray's "More Like Falling In Love"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rzOdXJu5UA
Troy
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