Ritual or Relationship?

Neither did they say, "Where is the LORD, Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, Who led us through the wilderness." Jeremiah 2:6

Christianity is an intimate, growing relationship with the person of Jesus Christ. It is not a set of doctrines to believe, habits to practice, or sins to avoid. Every activity God commands is intended to enhance His love relationship with His people.

God designed worship for us to see Him in His glory and to respond appropriately; for many it has degenerated into “religion,” one more meeting to attend out of habit. God established the sacrificial system so that we, His people, could express our love to Him; but we often diminish our gifts to our Lord into futile attempts to appease Him and to pacify our guilty conscience. God gave us prayer so we could have conversation with Him, but we often distort this by “saying prayers” and hurrying off without ever listening to what is on our Father’s heart. God instituted His commandments as a protection for those He loves, but the commandments can become a pathway to legalism rather than an avenue for a relationship with our Father in which He protects us from harm.

Religious activity apart from fellowship with God is empty ritual. The people of Jeremiah’s day were satisfied to have the ritual without the manifest presence of God. They became so comfortable with their “religion” that they didn’t even notice God’s absence. Is it possible to pray, to attend a worship service, or to give an offering yet not to experience the presence of God? It certainly is possible! And that has been the sad commentary on many a Christian experience.

Don’t settle for a religious life that lacks a vital relationship to Jesus Christ. In all that we do we should look to Christ. Attending church or going through the motions isnt enough. Sometime you may wonder why there is no Joy in your life and it confuses you because you are serving. But it just may be that you are being ritual and not spiritual. Jesus wants something personal and when you make it personal by spending time with Him you will see a diference. Today, Grace wants to challenge you to examine yourself and ask the questions " Am I apart of a RITUAL, or a part of a RELATIONSHIP. As you work on your relationship with Christ we challenge you to come sunday morning prepared to worship Christ in a relationship, not as a ritual.


Devotional by: Blackaby Ministries and Grace Ministries

Daily Devotional for Thursday, January 5th, 2012