Pastors Tim and Kim Hodge
The Pastor’s Quill
July 25, 2010
A lot can be said as to what RELIGION dictates us to do and not to do. Religion is a list of man-made hoops and expectations that people feel they have to jump through in order to please God and get ‘points’ with Him. In the end, RELIGION leads to frustration because we can’t jump through these hoops all the time. It tends to lead to a relentless cycle of despair. Religion is sterile.
The truth of the matter is Jesus Christ is not about religion; He is all about RELATIONSHIP. Note this passage in Colossians 1:19 & 20 – “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in the Son and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself by making peace through the blood of His cross – through Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.” The word for ‘reconcile’ here in the original language means “the restoration of a relationship that has been disturbed.” From the second Adam sinned and brought sin into all mankind, God ached for the day that He could restore that relationship with mankind. LIFE, abundant life, comes out of relationship with God.
Christianity is very simple. God doesn’t throw out a big list of does and don’ts. He simply wants our HEART. Note the words of the Psalmist: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming’” (Psalms 27:8, NLT).
I want that in my life. I want to hear His voice and I want my heart to passionately respond to Him. When I aim to please His heart, I don’t need a do’s and don’ts list. I know what makes His heart smile. His goodness, grace, mercy, and love makes mine smile.
Pastor Tim Hodge
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