Religion or relationship?

So often, religion is about the things we do. It’s about being seen in the right places, showing up, doing things for God. 

But I remember the shock I had when I realized that God isn’t so much into religion as He is into a relationship.

Is there anything wrong with robes or collars or choirs, all that stuff? Is there anything wrong with doing good things and getting to church on time? No, of course not. But those things, well, they’re not the main game. 

God’s not interested so much in the rituals we perform as He is in the relationship we have with Him.

Read the exchange between the religious leaders of the day and Jesus in Matthew 15:1–9, and you’ll see exactly what I mean. 

We can sing songs and honor God with our lips, but if our hearts are far from Him, then we are worshipping Him in vain. So why do we imagine that living our lives for God should be about ticking religious boxes? 

God wants our hearts. He wants a heart connection with us. 

He’s so passionate about it that He sent His only Son to die for you and me so we could have that sort of a relationship with Him.

The world is full of people who don’t have a clue about the passion that God has for them – to connect and set us free. God desires for us to experience His glory, His grace, and His love.

Loving Jesus isn’t about singing songs and going to church and doing religious things. Loving Jesus is about opening our hearts to Him and letting Him have sway in us, and laying our lives down for Him. Loving and serving the people around us.

That’s what God’s looking for, and that’s the sort of heart and desire that He’ll give us if only we’ll ask Him. God is in the business of utterly transforming our hearts. 

When we pursue Him, we can never run into the boundaries of His love. We’ll never come to the end of it because there is no end to His love. 

What a joy! What a life! Religion can’t give us that. But a relationship can.

Life application questions

•  What are the main differences you see between religion and relationship with God?
• Have you ever found yourself drifting more to the religious side of things and becoming preoccupied with rules and behavior? How does that affect your faith, your relationship with God?
• Read through Psalm 84 and allow its promises to sing in your heart. What comfort can you draw from these images of a deep, powerful relationship with your Heavenly Father?
• How can you open your heart a little further to Jesus today? Ask God to pour His Spirit into you, to break down barriers and help you grow closer to Him.