Philippians 3:7-11
New International Version (NIV)
"7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead."
I am currently going through a book study on Paul. It's titled "Paul ... 90 Days on His Journey of Faith" by Beth Moore. It's been great so far, and I'm only going into day 7! What an incredible man of God Paul was!
The passage of scripture above, was the focus in today's reading. As I reflected on it, many things were brought to mind. I thought about how some religions have ritual after ritual that they have to perform or so many prayers to recite in order to get forgiven or go to heaven. I was reminded of how works are such a center point in so many religions. People think that if they do this, or do that, or recite this or that, that they are 'ok' with 'the man upstairs'. It's no wonder so many are longing....are lost....are wondering...is there more?
YES!!!!
Listen to Paul's words! 'I want to KNOW Christ'. Knowing the Lord is soooo much deeper than mere rituals done once a week. Knowing God is a daily communication with Him! It's walking WITH Him. It's interacting with Him through the reading of His Word, through fellowship with Him, Praising His Name through songs, kneeling before Him in Prayer. It's sooo much sweeter when you KNOW Christ!
I think even we as Christians (speaking right to the woman in the mirror on this one!) can be saved for years and then get so caught up in the daily living of life and doing for the church, that we miss out on communion with the Lord. We get busy doing things, and forget the ONE that we are supposed to be serving and doing it for. I've been there. I know what it is like to be so busy serving and not really working on building our relationship with the Lord. We are missing out on the sweet quiet times with Him.
We, as Christians, need to be careful. Careful of getting too busy in the hussle and bussle (especially this time of the year) of doing all of the rituals and daily tasks for the Lord and the church, that we stop conversing with the One who this season is all about. It's in those busy times, that we can allow the evil one to get a strong hold in our lives. No daily communication with God = no Power to Overcome the fiery darts. We need to make sure to put on the Armor of God each and every day. If we don't...we can allow fear to penetrate, doubts to surface, and faith to be shaken.
I don't know about you, but I don't want just daily, empty, ritualistic religion! I WANT TO KNOW CHRIST! I want the righteousness that comes from my Lord, not from a religion or people or my self. I want to be made complete in HIM. I know that the only way that I can do this is to deny myself daily, rely on HIS strength, and through that I will continue to get stronger in my faith!
Without love for God and His Word, we're just trying to be good. Nothing will wear us out faster!! We will be going going going...and not filling up on HIM! Oh Lord, forgive us when we act like modern-day Pharisees...Convict us at the very moment of our departure from the law of love You have written on our hearts. Give us hearts of devotion, not heads full of religion! *
*Last paragraph paraphrased from Beth Moore's book 'Paul'.
I think even we as Christians (speaking right to the woman in the mirror on this one!) can be saved for years and then get so caught up in the daily living of life and doing for the church, that we miss out on communion with the Lord. We get busy doing things, and forget the ONE that we are supposed to be serving and doing it for. I've been there. I know what it is like to be so busy serving and not really working on building our relationship with the Lord. We are missing out on the sweet quiet times with Him.
We, as Christians, need to be careful. Careful of getting too busy in the hussle and bussle (especially this time of the year) of doing all of the rituals and daily tasks for the Lord and the church, that we stop conversing with the One who this season is all about. It's in those busy times, that we can allow the evil one to get a strong hold in our lives. No daily communication with God = no Power to Overcome the fiery darts. We need to make sure to put on the Armor of God each and every day. If we don't...we can allow fear to penetrate, doubts to surface, and faith to be shaken.
I don't know about you, but I don't want just daily, empty, ritualistic religion! I WANT TO KNOW CHRIST! I want the righteousness that comes from my Lord, not from a religion or people or my self. I want to be made complete in HIM. I know that the only way that I can do this is to deny myself daily, rely on HIS strength, and through that I will continue to get stronger in my faith!
Without love for God and His Word, we're just trying to be good. Nothing will wear us out faster!! We will be going going going...and not filling up on HIM! Oh Lord, forgive us when we act like modern-day Pharisees...Convict us at the very moment of our departure from the law of love You have written on our hearts. Give us hearts of devotion, not heads full of religion! *
*Last paragraph paraphrased from Beth Moore's book 'Paul'.
In reading your post, I can actually feel the emotion and love you have in your relationship with God. It is so true, religions end up being a ritual. The word itself religion means to re-bind. There is only one way we can do that and thats with our hearts. You've got this nailed right on the head!!
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