Worship: A Relationship Worth Having

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30 MSG)

God is forever extending an invitation to a personal relationship with him. He longs to make himself known to the heart that would receive Him. The purely religious mind would seek to alienate God from His creation by depicting him as an cosmic tyrant who can never be pleased. Religion places more importance on our constant effort than on accepting by faith what He has already done for us. Paul states, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago (Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT)."

Today step into the freedom that comes with this awesome relationship. Since “anyone joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him (1 Corinthians 6:17 HCSB)" you have the unique opportunity to be closer to God than religion teaches is possible. This relationship is not about trying to get on God’s good side, but it is about allowing God to live inside of you. If God lives inside of you then you never have to worry about Him leaving you. Jesus declares to us, “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends (Revelation 3:20 NLT)." Your worship of God will become more intimate as you realize that God is not a distant figure who has to be conjured up because the truth is that he never left.