October 2
Isaiah 66:1-24; Philippians 3:4-21; Psalm 74:1-23; Proverbs 24:15-16
How easily we substitute religion for a relationship with God. Instead of seeking Christ and pursuing him, we can easily become consumed with religious practices. We think that church attendance, Bible reading, giving, or other external practices make us pleasing to God. We can easily believe that we can somehow earn God's love rather than already being fully loved by him. We can see this mindset in both Isaiah and Philippians.
Isaiah cuts right to the point in verse 3 where he says that a wicked person who undergoes animal sacrifices "is like one who kills a person." These religious practices, without a heart for God, only add to a person's sins. The true forgiveness and cleansing we need cannot be achieved by our deeds, but rather can only be done by the work of Jesus. Similarly, Paul bemoans all of the religious titles which he used to find satisfaction in. He was the ultimate religious person as he describes himself in chapter 3 but outside of Christ all these accomplishments are "loss.... whatever were gains to me I now consider loss...I consider them garbage." Outside of Christ everything we accomplish and achieve cannot gain us eternity. We can be the most religious person in the world but, without Christ, it is all loss. Therefore, we need to make sure that Christ is the first priority of our lives, that he is the one we live for, and that he is the one we seek. We need to celebrate what he has done for us through his death and resurrection and find our identity in him. He alone is the one who can resurrect us, give us citizenship in heaven, and give us the salvation we need. So let us put him first in our lives.
Father God, thank you for all that Jesus has done for me. Help me to put him first in my life and live for his glory alone. May I always rest in what he has done for me and not think that my deeds can save me, but that my salvation is by grace through the finished work of Jesus. Amen.
Question: Why do we often wrongfully think that our religious deeds can cause God to love us more than he already does?
How easily we substitute religion for a relationship with God. Instead of seeking Christ and pursuing him, we can easily become consumed with religious practices. We think that church attendance, Bible reading, giving, or other external practices make us pleasing to God. We can easily believe that we can somehow earn God's love rather than already being fully loved by him. We can see this mindset in both Isaiah and Philippians.
Isaiah cuts right to the point in verse 3 where he says that a wicked person who undergoes animal sacrifices "is like one who kills a person." These religious practices, without a heart for God, only add to a person's sins. The true forgiveness and cleansing we need cannot be achieved by our deeds, but rather can only be done by the work of Jesus. Similarly, Paul bemoans all of the religious titles which he used to find satisfaction in. He was the ultimate religious person as he describes himself in chapter 3 but outside of Christ all these accomplishments are "loss.... whatever were gains to me I now consider loss...I consider them garbage." Outside of Christ everything we accomplish and achieve cannot gain us eternity. We can be the most religious person in the world but, without Christ, it is all loss. Therefore, we need to make sure that Christ is the first priority of our lives, that he is the one we live for, and that he is the one we seek. We need to celebrate what he has done for us through his death and resurrection and find our identity in him. He alone is the one who can resurrect us, give us citizenship in heaven, and give us the salvation we need. So let us put him first in our lives.
Father God, thank you for all that Jesus has done for me. Help me to put him first in my life and live for his glory alone. May I always rest in what he has done for me and not think that my deeds can save me, but that my salvation is by grace through the finished work of Jesus. Amen.
Question: Why do we often wrongfully think that our religious deeds can cause God to love us more than he already does?
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