How You Can Move from Religion to Relationship

“If you love me, keep my commands.” - John 14:15

Neil Marten, a member of the British Parliament many years ago, was once giving a group of his constituents a tour of the Houses of Parliament. During the visit, the group happened to meet the Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, who was adorned in the regalia of his office.

When the Chancellor recognized Marten among the group, he cried, “Neil!” Not daring to disobey the command, the entire group of visitors quickly fell to their knees!

It can be easy to turn the Christian life into nothing more than mindless religious obedience. Many Christians pray not out of a heartfelt desire to communicate with God, but out of duty. Others read their Bibles in order to check a box, not to discover the will of God for their lives.

But our God is not a God who simply wants mindless religious obedience. He wants us to obey out of a true and sincere love for Him. Checking boxes makes us feel good sometimes, but it completely misses the point of why we’re to obey in the first place.

Obey God out of love, not just out of duty. Move from mindless religion to a real relationship with God by making your obedience an overflow of your love for Christ!

Prayer Challenge

Pray that God would keep you away from mindless obedience and would help you to obey Him because you love Him.

Questions for Thought

When we try to obey God mindlessly, are we living in a system based on grace or works? In which one of these does God want you to live?

Think of some areas of your life where your obedience has become religious or mindless. How can you turn that back into heartfelt obedience out of love?