Theres A Place Where Religion Finally Dies.... Good morning all. Its Tuesday, October 28, 2014. This year has gone way too fast and yet not fast enough. I am eager to begin the new year. At the same time I feel like I have missed so many precious moments by the rapid ticking of the clock. I guess thats lifes little paradox for us. But thats not whats on my heart at the moment. Id like to discuss a verse from a song that is stuck in my head. The song is Fields of Grace by Big Daddy Weave. The verse itself is, Theres a place where religion finally dies... Ive listened to that song more times than I could venture to guess. Ive heard that verse numerous times. But about a week ago, that verse stuck out more than usual and I have been chewing on it ever since. Religion - a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking,(A) but of righteousness, peace(B) and joy in the Holy Spirit, (C)(Romans 14:17 NIV) I think many times people are confused about religion. I hear, Oh, your one of those religious types... or another similar statement. I am proud to say I am a Christian. I believe that Jesus IS God. I believe that God came to earth to be born in human form to show us how to live in righteousness and to draw us back to a relationship with Him. I believe He created us for that relationship with Him and we have somehow twisted that relationship to be more about us and less about Him. More about religion and less about relationship. I believe that Jesus Christ died a gruesome, sinners death so that I might choose to be saved by His blood and have eternal life offered through His sacrifice. I believe that He rose on the third day and ascended to The Father. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: (taken from 1 John 2:1-29 ESV) Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. (Colossians 3:11 ESV) 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy,(A) which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces[a] of this world(B) rather than on Christ. (Colossians 2:8 NIV) With all that being said, I wouldnt say I am one of those religious types. I would say that I do have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Right or wrong, I wish not to confuse the two. Relationship - the state of being related or interrelated He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:10-13 ESV) So again, look at the definition of Relationship above. The state of being related... God is giving us the right to be called children of God... He has adopted us through our belief in Him, in His Son. He created us for fellowship with Him, for His glory, not our own. It is not our religion that will get us an eternal room in the Heavenly Mansion. It is our relationship with His son that will allow us that honor. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6 ESV) If our relationship with Him is nurtured and developed, we will become more like Him, possessing the fruits of the spirit... 22 But (A)the fruit of the Spirit is (B)love, joy, peace, patience, (C)kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 (D)gentleness, (E)self-control; (F)against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV) People will know we are believers in Christ not because we wear a t-shirt or have a bumper sticker that says so. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them.(A) Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?(B) 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.(C) 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.(D) 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’(E) will enter the kingdom of heaven,(F) but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.(G) 22 Many will say to me on that day,(H) ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’(I) 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’(J) (Matthew 7:16-23 NIV) People will know we are Christians because we are reflecting Him in our actions. We grow our faith and our relationship with Him through the study of His Word. We talk to Him regularly. We meditate on His Word and listen after weve made our petitions. Through our daily exercise of spending time with Him, we will be transformed from the inside out.... blessings m
Posted on: Tue, 28 Oct 2014 14:31:15 +0000
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