Relationship, Not Religion
April 6, 2007
Bible Reading: “He endured as seeing Him who is invisible.” - Hebrews 11:27
Bonus Reading: II Corinthians 4:13-18
Devotional writer Henri Nouwen urged people to know God intimately through our Lord Jesus. Once, when participating in a conference on art and the spiritual life, Nouwen was at a table where a woman complained that she had quit going to her church because she disagreed with its policies, which had little to do with the Lord and more to do with the details of administration or procedure.
Henri leaned over and said to her, “All that is distraction. I don’t mean to denigrate or even dispute your complaints, but those are beside the point. The only thing that really matters is your relationship with Jesus.”
Nouwen knew the importance of a personal relationship with the Savior. Although He may be invisible to our natural eyes and unable to be touched by our hands, that doesn’t mean He’s not there with us, every day. In fact Scripture teaches us the complete opposite. After all, electricity is invisible, but it is a pervasive and vast source of power. So it is with Jesus. We keep in touch with Him through prayer, diligent study of His Word, and listening, empowered by the indwelling, baptizing Holy Spirit. If we do, He is central and powerful in every aspect of our lives.
Nouwen advised, “Just take 5 minutes a day every day for 2 weeks to sit quietly and ask to be with Jesus, and ask for His presence. And then come and tell me what’s important.” What advice!
I recently came on the scene of a traffic accident, while traveling to a hospital visit on my Harley. I felt prompted to stop, an urge confirmed by the fact this was no ordinary fender-bender. Two young men, probably not even old enough to vote, were hot-rodding their high powered coupe, when they lost control and rolled the auto over the guard rail to a freeway exit some 30 feet below. They were killed instantly - only minutes before I arrived. As I stopped my bike, took off my helmet and strode to the pavement where one young man’s lifeless body lay in a puddle of his own blood, As I prayed the ancient prayers over the departed, I wondered if they had a relationship with the Lord. Not long thereafter, after checking the rest of the scene for anyone needing care, I remounted my motorcycle to complete my hospital visit, just as paramedics arrived. As I rode on, I acquired a deeper understanding of what is important. It’s not religion - it’s relationship.
The heart of Christianity is a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ - not religion, which is a term derived from the Latin word for “rules.” Once we have relationship with Jesus personally, the details of our lives roll into perspective. Will we take 5 minutes today to seek His presence?
Thought to Apply: When you relate to God as a person, you develop a personal relationship with God and the details of life come into perspective. What is our relationship with Jesus?
Grace and peace, Chip+
Comments
Got something to say?
