Daily Devotional Feb 19th 2021: Religion is Worthless?

A week before I was baptized in the icy waters of the Jersey Sea in October 2011, I distributed invitations to my colleagues and friends to attend the event. One statement I made on the flyer was this: "I am not religious, but I have a relationship with Jesus."... or something to this effect. My boss didn't come, but many of my peers did. One lady, a Jewish Christian, said: "This is a profound statement, I am amazed..." Why would I make such a declaration? I had studied materials from the Koinonia Institute, Dr. Chuck Missler - and he taught me early on the importance of having a relationship with God, that this is what He wants from us, not merely carrying out some mechanical, religious, repetitive actions or even prayer for the sake of fulfilling a religious requirement. 

I am glad I didn't fall into the trap of denominational rituals and man-made doctrines that are contrary to the bible. I had no church baggage. I only had the challenge of making a conscious decision to believe God's Word, to surrender my life to Him, and to live righteously. God has plenty to say about relationships. In His eyes, it's an intimate friendship that is based on His promises, our keeping of His statues, and His desire to have fellowship with us. So He created us. 

Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Genesis 3:8
And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

1 Corinthians 1:9
“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”

1 John 1:3
“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”

Leviticus 26:12
“And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.”

Religion doesn't cut it. Religion isn't fellowship. Religion is man's way to hide from God. Keeping His statues is part of the relationship, but we are no longer under the law. Jesus stepped in to free us from sin. Truly following Him ensures we are not living as transgressors against God. There is a difference between committing a transgression and to living in sin. Can you see the difference?

Here is what God says about religion:

James 1:27
“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

It is not to carry out the edicts of Pharisees and Sadducees, each of whom believed different things. The Pharisees believed in the resurrection; the Sadducees didn't; worthless man-made doctrines, from which denominations were born. There is only one truth, and it is our Creator:

John 14:6
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

In fact. Jesus hated religion for religion's sake. Religion sees people as the enemy; Jesus sees SIN as the enemy.

James 1:26
“If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.” 

This short devotional doesn't do the subject justice. It is meant as a nudge to look at our own relationship with God. Do we go to church every Sunday simply because that's what everyone else does? Do I live in sin, or do I love God? Do I spend time in the Word of God, or do I watch TV for hours on end. Pray over it and listen, and let God show you how to enter the narrow gate.

A great way to staying in the Word is to use Bible.com on your mobile or computer, and subscribe to a reading plan. One of my favorites is The Bible in 90 Days. I am already reading the book of Judges just now, day 15. I read/listend to the complete bible three times last year, and each time, I discover new nuggets that bring me closer to God. It has never been so easy to stay in God's Word. What will you do today?

How to Pray

LORD, glory and praise be to You today and forever!
LORD, Your are my King and my Salvation. 
LORD, without You, I am lost. Without Your presence, I am failing.
LORD, help me to love Your Word more than honey,
LORD, instill in me the deep desire to have fellowship with You.
LORD, help me to remember to command my soul to worship You, in thought and deed.
LORD, remind me when I am about to carry out a worthless religious act that profits nothing,
So that I may stand before You one day, with You saying:

Matthew 25:23
“His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

In the precious name of Jesus.
Amen 

#Devotional #Scripture4TheDay #Godsblessings #religion #worthlessdeed #fellowshipwithgod 

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