Jesus and the Church

     Were you raised to believe church was a weekly duty? Did you dread getting up, getting dressed-up and sitting in a hard pew listening to things you did not understand? Did you know Jesus despises “religion?” Some of His harshest words were aimed at the religious leaders of His time on earth.

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside, are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.” Matthew 23:27

     Jesus does not care one hoot about our outward appearance, about our fancy speeches and our knowledge of theology, our degrees or the size of our bank accounts or our homes. He sees the inner man, the true believer, the one changed by His love, the one in relationship with Him. The old has gone, the new is here!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

     Don’t look to a church or to any denomination for all of your answers. Look only to Jesus Christ, the One who died for you! His life-changing love works from the inside out and transforms our very lives. Get to know Him. Read His Word. Accept His love. Receive the gift of grace. He loves you, just the way you are right now and He loves you too much to let you remain where you are. He will continue His work in you and in your life.

Jesus,

We look only to You for our very lives. Church is not about rules and regulations, about duty and obligation. It is about worship and fellowship, about loving one another, about serving You. Show us how to be Your church on the earth.

Amen