Religion
Religiosity and its regimental rules and regulations tie us up in chains and keep us in bondage. It can trap us in fear, causing us to rely on our self and our own efforts to save us.
Religion barks orders to their slaves, keeping us thinking, “when I have done this or accomplished that or have cleaned myself up, only then could I possibly please and gain acceptance from God”.
Religion is the opposite of intimate relationship with our creator. The kind He yearns to have with us.
Relationship
Relationship, at its core is based in love. A love like no other. A love that has no conditions attached to it, a love that knows no bounds. A love that accepts.
Relationship with the One seeks to know, listen and please Him out of wanting to, rather than out of duty. Relationship is anchored in Grace and knows, “I don’t have to be perfect to come running into the safety and shelter of His arms”.
Relationship is freedom, colourful and liberating. Religion is restrictive, grey and debilitating.
The path to relationship
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John chapter 14, verse 6).
Jesus is the way to intimate relationship. Recognising we need a saviour, repenting and returning to Him sets us on the right path.
Then we can come boldly into his presence, as a child boldly runs to their parent; unashamed, uninhibited and free.
Oh how He yearns for this closeness, this intimacy. For us to tell him everything and to just sit in his presence. To know who we are as a child of God, to know he sees us without spot or blemish; because when he sees us, he sees his son (1 Corinthians chapter 5, verses 17-21).
This precious gift has nothing to do with our self-effort and what a relief that is.
“For by grace we have been saved through faith, and that not of ourselves; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians chapter 2, verse 8).
Let us continue to seek His face and present ourselves as living sacrifices for Him (Romans chapter 12, verse 1).
Relationship to rule
Give us eyes to see as you see,
give us ears to hear, as you do.
May the scales fall off our eyes,
may we hear the broken-hearted cries.
Help us live out our God-given destinies,
to abide in you and to rest.
To know your heart and mind,
our Heavenly Father- merciful, loving and kind.
By Jo Fuller
Jo Fuller lives on the beautiful Sunshine Coast with her husband and young family. She has degrees in journalism and education and is currently a primary-school teacher who writes in her spare time.