Get Real #4.

Thursday, October 20, 2011
Get Real #4. He’d be raised in religion. He knew all the ins and out of what the religious crowd thought it took to please God. He knew the Law, and he knew the Prophets. He lived a clean life. He had zeal, and he had passion. He invested his time in pursuing those who he thought were following a cult leader, and then he had them arrested or executed. He was as religious as religious gets. And then he met Jesus.
He had set out on a journey to Damascus to hunt down and arrest more followers of “the Way,” as Christians were called in those days. Only God knows what would have awaited those believers, had Saul made it where he was headed. All we know is that he didn’t – he saw the Light first (literally). (See Acts 9)
Have you ever been knocked off your “high horse?” You thought you had it all together and were really something when suddenly, out of nowhere, something/someone came along and gave you a stiff reminder of what humility feels like? Saul literally was knocked off of his high horse by Jesus Himself, and the rest of his life was spent telling everyone, everywhere about it.
See, that’s what religion produces: pride and haughtiness. Just think about it: if I am following a “system of beliefs and rituals” that supposedly gives me the pattern to get to God, somewhere along the way I’ll begin to think I’m pretty good at it. If the responsibility for getting to/reaching God is in my hands, I’m pretty special – don’t ya think? The problem is that this teaching is not only false, but it’s a slap in the face to the God who sent His Son Jesus to get us to Him.
Jesus came to enter into relationship with us, not religion. What I have as a disciple of Christ isn’t about religion or a simple system of beliefs or rituals – it’s relational. I serve Him because I love Him, not because it’s earning me a seat at His table.
Saul learned that from Christ Himself on the Damascus road. As a matter of fact, the lesson was so life changing for him that God even changed his name. The man before Christ was Saul – the same man, after meeting Christ, was Paul. A total life-change merited a name change too.
So, you want change you can truly believe in? Come to Christ – ask Him to forgive your sins, be your Savior and Lord, and grow you in Him. Been chasing religion? Come get something better – the only Truth that will ever truly change you. Come get the Real thing – Jesus.

(If you’d like more information on knowing Jesus personally, please write to pastorblakeman@yahoo.com or contact me on Facebook anytime!)



That’s just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Until next time,
blake

This blog is brought to you courtesy of http://fromblake.blogspot.com. Visit today and sign up to become an official follower!
Feel free to write blake anytime at pastorblakeman@yahoo.com