God Wants Relationship Not Religion

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,
traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,
always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." ---2 Tim. 3:1-7

A form of godliness is very different from the power; This is a good way of describing hypocrites and those who have "religion" and no relationship. These kind of people have been found throughout time and in every place. There has always been these artful men, who, by pretences and flatteries, creep in and find the favour and confidence of those who are too easily infuenced and deceived. These people follow every new "fad" in the church, yet never seek the truth as it is in Jesus.

"'These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.

And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' " Matthew 15:8-9

"For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart--
These, O God, You will not despise." Psalm 51:16-17

God desires to have a relationship with us. Just going through the motions and being "religious" is not what God is looking for. Going to church week after week and giving lip service to God means nothing if we are not living the way He wants us to. We must let our lights shine before men. It is disturbing that today there is very little distinction between the world and most people who call themselves Christian. God said obedience is better than sacrifice.

"And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
13 "and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good?" Deuteronomy 10:12-13


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