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Do you have religion or a relationship?
Many people say they are a Christian, but in today’s society, most of them have no clue what it even means to be a Christian. If
you are a Christian, your life is all about Jesus. Your actions, your thoughts, even your dreams are about Jesus, His love, His
forgiveness, His word, His teachings, His commandments. These things are not just a Sunday morning thing. They are not just
brought up at youth group, or on your mind during your daily devotional time with God. If you are truly walking, following, living for
Christ, these things are your life! They have become who you are. They are no longer a practice, they are a lifestyle.
I’m going to give you an example, and I know many people are going to be angry with me, but I’m not here for playing religious
games, I’m here to make sure you’re truly on your way to heaven. Let’s take the religious man’s average week of living. My week
is going to start on Tuesday. Second work day of the week. Nothing too exciting. Get up, go to work, come home, have your little
daily devotional bible reading time, and off to bed. Wednesday comes, same stuff, only today, you get off work and have to get
ready for Wednesday night church service. Go back home, daily devotional reading time again, and off to bed. Thursday, back to
a normal week day, a little excited that Friday is just a day away, looking forward to a Friday night and a good weekend. Friday
comes, you’re at work planning on what you’re going to do that night. Thinking about things you want to do on Saturday. Saturday
passes, you had your fun hanging out with friends, doing things you enjoy doing; of course, still setting aside your daily
devotional time for God. Sunday morning, Big Game Day! Excited about hanging out with your friends and watching the football
game. Go to church, spend your “obligated” time with the Lord, and then off to lunch. Then make your way to the store to get
some chips or whatnot for the game. Go home, friends come over, turn on the game, get a little carried away, game over, friends
leave, and you’re back to your daily devotional time with the Lord. And that is a week in the life of an average professing
Christian. I’d actually say that this is above average, because many of them don’t even have a daily devotional time with God.
They just give Him the little time they spend in church.
Can I just say something? If you paid as little attention to your wife as you do you’re Lord, would she feel loved? Would she feel
as if your life was dedicated toward pleasing her? Or would she feel like she is just that woman you call your wife? What about
your best friend? If you spent as little time with your friend as you do with Jesus, would you still have that friend? Would they call
you up as often? Would they feel as though you were truly one of their friends? Or would they feel as if they are just there when
you need them? So how do you think Jesus feels? Does He feel like you love Him? Does He feel as though you truly life your life
for Him? Does He feel as though you have a strong and loving relationship with Him? Or does He feel like He is just the One
you call Lord, the One you go to only when you need Him while you live the majority of your life to please yourself?
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and
rose again.”
After you are born again, you do not live for yourself, you live for God. If you are truly after God’s heart; if you have truly been born
again and you’re living your life for Christ; He will be everything to you! The things you do, the things you say, the things you think
about, He is everything to you! You are humble in all things, because of His love. You are thankful for all things, because of His
grace. Everything you do will be for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
After I was saved, the only thing I could think about was God. Waking up in the morning thinking about Him, thinking about His
word, thoughts about God being on my mind all throughout the day. I love Jesus so much, He is everything to me. Have you ever
fell in love with someone? How often do you think about them? Can you go your entire day and not have a thought about the one
you love until the end of the day? Or could you go all week and not think about the one you love until the weekend? How is it that
so many professing Christians can live their lives for themselves and only give God a thought during their bedtime prayer, or
during their daily devotional bible reading time? Some people give no thought to God except during church service on Sunday
morning, or Wednesday night. Even then, people will go to church and still not put real thought into God and His love, His grace,
His commandments, His word. How is this so? It should not be!
Today’s Christianity is so empty. Most peoples idea of having a relationship with God is having their daily devotional bible time, a
bedtime prayer, and a church service once or twice a week. That’s not a relationship, and in fact, most people only do those
things because they feel obligated to do so, and not because they have a strong desire to do so. If you have been born again,
you’re only desire is to do the will of the Father. Everything in your life will be revolved around Him and His will.
Think about your life. Are you living for God, or is He just the one you call Lord? Is He everything to you, or is He just there during
your little devotional time, or at church service? Think about what you do with your life and how much of it revolves around God. I
can already hear people saying, “God doesn’t care if I watch football, or if I want to do things with my life. Just because I’m a
Christian doesn’t mean I have to give up everything I do.” And you know what I have to say to that? Look at your attitude. You give
no thought about what God wants, because all you care about is your own life. I did not say you had to give up everything, but
look at the relationship you have with this world, and then look at the relationship you have with Jesus.
Jesus said in John 12:25 “He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life
eternal.”
And don’t tell me I take this too seriously. Let me tell you something most people don’t think about anymore. God is a jealous
God, because He loves you so much. Have you ever had feelings for a girl, and then seen her hanging out and having fun with
another guy, and you had a jealous feeling? Or girls; has this ever happened to you with a guy you had feelings for? Do you not
think God feels the same way when He sees you hanging out and having fun with the world?
James said in James 4:4, “Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend
of the world is the enemy of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:7 “Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and
rose up to play.”
I’m not saying that you cannot have hobbies or watch a football game; I’m asking you to examine yourself and compare the
relationship you have with the things of this world to the relationship you have with Jesus. In the end you will see who you follow,
and with most of today’s professing Christians, it will not be Jesus, but this world. Most people follow their little religious routine
rather than having a relationship with Jesus. They don’t show any compassion toward Him. They don’t show a desire to follow
Him. They shut Him out of their lives while they live for themselves, and they only open the door to Him during their little religious
obligations. You might think this is harsh, but when was the last time you felt sorrow in your heart because of the way people
treat God? The way they seem to take advantage of Him. I feel bad that I myself do not spend more time with Jesus, yet millions
of professing Christians live for themselves and don't even give Jesus a thought except for during their religious routines. How
can they say they are humble toward Him? How can they say they love Him? How can they say they have a relationship with
Him? I so long for the day that I will be with Him and totally separated from everything of this world. My soul longs for Him and
Him alone. To God be the glory for ever and ever, Amen!
So many people are stuck in a religious box. Your religion will profit you nothing. He does not want your little daily devotional. He
does not want your hour of church attendance once or twice a week. He wants you to have a loving relationship with Him. There
are so many people who believe they have a relationship with God, yet on that day, He will deny them.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:22-23 “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy
name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you:
depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Examine yourself. Do you have religion, or do you have a true, loving relationship with Jesus? Because on the day you stand
before Him, your religion will get you a one way ticket straight to hell, but a relationship with Jesus will get you eternal life. I
cannot stress this enough. Examine yourself.
you are a Christian, your life is all about Jesus. Your actions, your thoughts, even your dreams are about Jesus, His love, His
forgiveness, His word, His teachings, His commandments. These things are not just a Sunday morning thing. They are not just
brought up at youth group, or on your mind during your daily devotional time with God. If you are truly walking, following, living for
Christ, these things are your life! They have become who you are. They are no longer a practice, they are a lifestyle.
I’m going to give you an example, and I know many people are going to be angry with me, but I’m not here for playing religious
games, I’m here to make sure you’re truly on your way to heaven. Let’s take the religious man’s average week of living. My week
is going to start on Tuesday. Second work day of the week. Nothing too exciting. Get up, go to work, come home, have your little
daily devotional bible reading time, and off to bed. Wednesday comes, same stuff, only today, you get off work and have to get
ready for Wednesday night church service. Go back home, daily devotional reading time again, and off to bed. Thursday, back to
a normal week day, a little excited that Friday is just a day away, looking forward to a Friday night and a good weekend. Friday
comes, you’re at work planning on what you’re going to do that night. Thinking about things you want to do on Saturday. Saturday
passes, you had your fun hanging out with friends, doing things you enjoy doing; of course, still setting aside your daily
devotional time for God. Sunday morning, Big Game Day! Excited about hanging out with your friends and watching the football
game. Go to church, spend your “obligated” time with the Lord, and then off to lunch. Then make your way to the store to get
some chips or whatnot for the game. Go home, friends come over, turn on the game, get a little carried away, game over, friends
leave, and you’re back to your daily devotional time with the Lord. And that is a week in the life of an average professing
Christian. I’d actually say that this is above average, because many of them don’t even have a daily devotional time with God.
They just give Him the little time they spend in church.
Can I just say something? If you paid as little attention to your wife as you do you’re Lord, would she feel loved? Would she feel
as if your life was dedicated toward pleasing her? Or would she feel like she is just that woman you call your wife? What about
your best friend? If you spent as little time with your friend as you do with Jesus, would you still have that friend? Would they call
you up as often? Would they feel as though you were truly one of their friends? Or would they feel as if they are just there when
you need them? So how do you think Jesus feels? Does He feel like you love Him? Does He feel as though you truly life your life
for Him? Does He feel as though you have a strong and loving relationship with Him? Or does He feel like He is just the One
you call Lord, the One you go to only when you need Him while you live the majority of your life to please yourself?
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and
rose again.”
After you are born again, you do not live for yourself, you live for God. If you are truly after God’s heart; if you have truly been born
again and you’re living your life for Christ; He will be everything to you! The things you do, the things you say, the things you think
about, He is everything to you! You are humble in all things, because of His love. You are thankful for all things, because of His
grace. Everything you do will be for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
After I was saved, the only thing I could think about was God. Waking up in the morning thinking about Him, thinking about His
word, thoughts about God being on my mind all throughout the day. I love Jesus so much, He is everything to me. Have you ever
fell in love with someone? How often do you think about them? Can you go your entire day and not have a thought about the one
you love until the end of the day? Or could you go all week and not think about the one you love until the weekend? How is it that
so many professing Christians can live their lives for themselves and only give God a thought during their bedtime prayer, or
during their daily devotional bible reading time? Some people give no thought to God except during church service on Sunday
morning, or Wednesday night. Even then, people will go to church and still not put real thought into God and His love, His grace,
His commandments, His word. How is this so? It should not be!
Today’s Christianity is so empty. Most peoples idea of having a relationship with God is having their daily devotional bible time, a
bedtime prayer, and a church service once or twice a week. That’s not a relationship, and in fact, most people only do those
things because they feel obligated to do so, and not because they have a strong desire to do so. If you have been born again,
you’re only desire is to do the will of the Father. Everything in your life will be revolved around Him and His will.
Think about your life. Are you living for God, or is He just the one you call Lord? Is He everything to you, or is He just there during
your little devotional time, or at church service? Think about what you do with your life and how much of it revolves around God. I
can already hear people saying, “God doesn’t care if I watch football, or if I want to do things with my life. Just because I’m a
Christian doesn’t mean I have to give up everything I do.” And you know what I have to say to that? Look at your attitude. You give
no thought about what God wants, because all you care about is your own life. I did not say you had to give up everything, but
look at the relationship you have with this world, and then look at the relationship you have with Jesus.
Jesus said in John 12:25 “He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life
eternal.”
And don’t tell me I take this too seriously. Let me tell you something most people don’t think about anymore. God is a jealous
God, because He loves you so much. Have you ever had feelings for a girl, and then seen her hanging out and having fun with
another guy, and you had a jealous feeling? Or girls; has this ever happened to you with a guy you had feelings for? Do you not
think God feels the same way when He sees you hanging out and having fun with the world?
James said in James 4:4, “Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend
of the world is the enemy of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:7 “Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and
rose up to play.”
I’m not saying that you cannot have hobbies or watch a football game; I’m asking you to examine yourself and compare the
relationship you have with the things of this world to the relationship you have with Jesus. In the end you will see who you follow,
and with most of today’s professing Christians, it will not be Jesus, but this world. Most people follow their little religious routine
rather than having a relationship with Jesus. They don’t show any compassion toward Him. They don’t show a desire to follow
Him. They shut Him out of their lives while they live for themselves, and they only open the door to Him during their little religious
obligations. You might think this is harsh, but when was the last time you felt sorrow in your heart because of the way people
treat God? The way they seem to take advantage of Him. I feel bad that I myself do not spend more time with Jesus, yet millions
of professing Christians live for themselves and don't even give Jesus a thought except for during their religious routines. How
can they say they are humble toward Him? How can they say they love Him? How can they say they have a relationship with
Him? I so long for the day that I will be with Him and totally separated from everything of this world. My soul longs for Him and
Him alone. To God be the glory for ever and ever, Amen!
So many people are stuck in a religious box. Your religion will profit you nothing. He does not want your little daily devotional. He
does not want your hour of church attendance once or twice a week. He wants you to have a loving relationship with Him. There
are so many people who believe they have a relationship with God, yet on that day, He will deny them.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:22-23 “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy
name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you:
depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Examine yourself. Do you have religion, or do you have a true, loving relationship with Jesus? Because on the day you stand
before Him, your religion will get you a one way ticket straight to hell, but a relationship with Jesus will get you eternal life. I
cannot stress this enough. Examine yourself.
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