Hebrews 7:19 In its ability to reunite mankind with God, the law did not succeed even once; that is why it was superseded by the introduction of a far superior hope, a new order in which we are perfectly represented before God. (Mirror Bible)

Is your relationship religious or spiritual?

Adhering to religious practices and activities does not and cannot make you perfect before God. This is important for you to know. Why? Because you could get sidetracked on your journey to a closer walk with the Lord.

Mark 7:7-9 In vain (fruitlessly and without profit) do they worship Me, ordering and teaching [to be obeyed] as doctrines the commandments and precepts of men. 8 You disregard and give up and ask to depart from you the commandment of God and cling to the tradition of men [keeping it carefully and faithfully]. 9 And He said to them, You have a fine way of rejecting [thus thwarting and nullifying and doing away with] the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition (your own human regulations) (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition AMPC)

It does not matter how many songs you sing, programs you chair, prayers you pray, tongues you speak in, people you transport, demons you cast out, or meetings you attend. Works you do “for God” will not reconcile you to God. These activities cannot make atonement; they do not have the power to pay for your sins and cannot put away guilt.

Romans 4:4-5 Now to a laborer, his wages are not credited as a favor or a gift, but as an obligation [something owed to him]. 5 But to the one who does not work [that is, the one who does not try to earn his salvation by doing good], but believes and completely trusts in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited to him as righteousness (right standing with God). (Amplified Bible, AMP)

Please don’t believe salvation can be earned and/or sustained by doing good works. Your good works will not restore things to the way God wanted them before man broke the Law and became a sinner. Thank God for Jesus! He is the new promise.

Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception [pseudo-intellectual babble], according to the tradition [and musings] of mere men, following the elementary principles of this world, rather than following [the truth—the teachings of] Christ. (Amplified Bible, AMP)

Don’t get entangled in the old way, walk in the newness of Christ!

Please agree with me as I pray:

Father God, I thank You for ending the need to work to have a relationship with You. Thank You for sending Jesus to die. He established my relationship through His shed blood. Thank You for not requiring me to sing a million songs or be in charge of a million programs. As if a million would be enough. Thank You most of all for the steady and quiet reminder in my spirit, “It’s not you, It Is Me”. The tendency to want to do things that are pleasing to men, thinking it will please You, has been present for as long as I can remember. I thank You for being in control. You check me when I stray off the path. I honor You. You make so many provisions for me to be transformed into Your image. I repent for every time I chose tradition instead of Your command. Thank You for never giving up  on me…