Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:28-29
Being religious is tiring but following Jesus is fulfilling, exciting, and satisfying.
Today's Thought
True or False: You can tell when people have become mature Christians because they say the right words, do the right things, avoid the wrong people, wear the tight clothes, and act nice to other people. [Comment your answer below]
People talk about Christianity being a religion, and in a technical sense, they're right. But being a follower of Christ isn't the same thing as being a religious person - in fact, it's the opposite.
Religious people are convinced that God's love is directly related to their actions and deeds. They believe they can earn God's love and acceptance - or they think God will stop loving them if they don't act a certain way or perform well enough, as if God were a judge on American Idol. That;s a recipe for burnout, fatigue, and disappointment because pour human efforts will always fall short.
Look at what Jesus said in Matthew 11. He called out to people who were burned out on religion, tired of following routines and rituals, and exhausted by trying to earn God's love. Jesus promises a different life, one filled with rest, refreshments, and joy. That's the sign of true spirituality and an authentic, vibrant relationship with God.
FACT: God's love isn't based on your performance.
FACT: You can't earn forgiveness.
FACT: You can't work your way into heaven.
Forgiveness, salvation, eternal life, a fulfilling life on earth - these things are experienced through a relationship with Jesu.
Ultimately, God is more concerned about what's happening inside of us than what we do on the outside - and if we're becoming more like Jesus on the inside, it's going to be obvious on the outside! Our lives will reflect that change. That's part of our experience as 212 Christians. Focus on your relationship with Jesu, and change will happen!
Prayer
God, help me to avoid the trap of performing religious duties just to please You. Help me experience and understand what it means to find rest, refreshment, and joy in my relationship with You. Thanks for loving me, even when I don't deserve it. Chandge and transform me into the person YOu want me to be - from the inside out. Amen
Hmm... I don't think they wear tight clothes... But I'd say the rest is partially true. It take more than just how someone acts to tell they're spiritually mature. My group was talking on Sunday about how to tell someone is mature and they all said things like "prayer" or "they're wise about God" so a lot of it actually comes from the inside.
ReplyDeleteTori, I think I missed a "don't" in the tight clothes part. Thank you for your comments. Very encouraging knowing you are doing the devotions!!!! I hope they are making your week go great!
ReplyDeleteClaude
True: Not only should they do all the things above but they should also be a firm believer in their faith, they shouldn't be intimidated by the devil when something happens that they didn't want to happen, they should trust in God and know that he will provide everything they need, they shouldn't be afraid to praise God in any situation that comes their way, and they should know what they believe in and help others come to Christ.-Jasmin Darden
ReplyDelete