Day 139: What Good Is Your 'Religion' Anyway?
Read: Malachi 3:13 - 18
The countdown has begun, it is three days till Ash Wednesday, the
traditional period of the forty days of Lent. Lent is the Christian
season of preparation before Easter. The season of Lent is a time when
many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting,
repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. The purpose is to set
aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ - his suffering and his
sacrifice, his life, death, burial and resurrection - allot to reflect
on. The Bible does not actually or even specifically mention the custom of Lent, however, the
practice of repentance and mourning in ashes can be found herein these readings: 2Samuel
13:19; Esther 4:1; Job 2:8; Daniel 9:3; and Matthew 11:21.
Today I'm beginning a short series of devotional efforts asking the age
old question: "What good is our religion?" Searching through the Hebrew
Scripture for a place to start, I was lead to a passage from
Malachi 3:13 - 15: “You have used harsh words against me,” says the
Lord. “You ask, ‘How have we spoken against you?’ 14 “You have said,
‘It’s pointless to serve God. What do we gain if we meet his standards
or if we walk around feeling sorry for what we’ve done? 15 So now we
(shall) call arrogant people blessed. Not only are evildoers encouraged,
they even test God and get away with it.’ It sounds like God is coming right out of heaven and is accusing His chosen people of being 'religious' frauds!
Even today as we sit here together there is even still today no one who can claim that they have not wondered, at one time or another, why the wicked seem to prosper so, while the Saints of God suffer. Some have even become so discouraged
that they've asked, “What’s the use of religion? What good is it? Does
it make any difference to a man’s condition?” These are completely valid
questions to ask, and so monumentally difficult to answer. Mankind is
teetering on the brink of a great chasm and where is 'religion' with the
rope to pull us all back and save us from a fate worse than death?
Personally, I hope that my 'religion' has already fallen over the cliff for
I pray that 'my religion' never saves nobody!!!
So, what good is my 'religion' if it never saves? The only possible answer is no good because only God saves. So, Mankind’s age-old questions,
Questions that can be traced back to the days of the Israelites who
returned from exile in Babylon. Even they had not had the prosperity
they had hoped for. So many of them, even those who had served God so
faithfully, began to let doubts darken their trust as they listened to
the whispers of their own vain glorious hearts, reinforced by the
mutterings of others. Here they had all been diligent keeping God’s
laws, and going in black garments “before the Lord” in grand
demonstrations of penitence, and no good had come to them or anyone else
either. So, let this be the place we begin to reflect. Start asking yourself this question: Just what
good is YOUR 'religion'?
Let Us Pray: Father God, as we
countdown the days, as we approach this season of Lent once again, Your
age old accusation remains, Your ancient words still ring loudly in our
ears: 'Your words have been strong and hard against Me, says the Lord.
Yet you say, What have we spoken against You? You have said, It is
useless to serve God, and what profit is it if we keep His ordinances
and walk gloomily and as if in mourning apparel before the Lord of
hosts? Whether 2500 years ago or today, we still
cannot give any
meaningful answer or offer up any legitimate excuse nor argument against
it. Our claim to fame: We are just as stubborn and stiff necked as the
exiles.
So, Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, and
they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. Let us
pray even further. O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did
instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit
we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations. Through Jesus
Christ Our Lord and Savior.
http://www.youtube.com/
Read: Malachi 3:13 - 18
The countdown has begun, it is three days till Ash Wednesday, the traditional period of the forty days of Lent. Lent is the Christian season of preparation before Easter. The season of Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. The purpose is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ - his suffering and his sacrifice, his life, death, burial and resurrection - allot to reflect on. The Bible does not actually or even specifically mention the custom of Lent, however, the practice of repentance and mourning in ashes can be found herein these readings: 2Samuel 13:19; Esther 4:1; Job 2:8; Daniel 9:3; and Matthew 11:21.
Today I'm beginning a short series of devotional efforts asking the age old question: "What good is our religion?" Searching through the Hebrew Scripture for a place to start, I was lead to a passage from Malachi 3:13 - 15: “You have used harsh words against me,” says the Lord. “You ask, ‘How have we spoken against you?’ 14 “You have said, ‘It’s pointless to serve God. What do we gain if we meet his standards or if we walk around feeling sorry for what we’ve done? 15 So now we (shall) call arrogant people blessed. Not only are evildoers encouraged, they even test God and get away with it.’ It sounds like God is coming right out of heaven and is accusing His chosen people of being 'religious' frauds!
Even today as we sit here together there is even still today no one who can claim that they have not wondered, at one time or another, why the wicked seem to prosper so, while the Saints of God suffer. Some have even become so discouraged that they've asked, “What’s the use of religion? What good is it? Does it make any difference to a man’s condition?” These are completely valid questions to ask, and so monumentally difficult to answer. Mankind is teetering on the brink of a great chasm and where is 'religion' with the rope to pull us all back and save us from a fate worse than death? Personally, I hope that my 'religion' has already fallen over the cliff for I pray that 'my religion' never saves nobody!!!
So, what good is my 'religion' if it never saves? The only possible answer is no good because only God saves. So, Mankind’s age-old questions, Questions that can be traced back to the days of the Israelites who returned from exile in Babylon. Even they had not had the prosperity they had hoped for. So many of them, even those who had served God so faithfully, began to let doubts darken their trust as they listened to the whispers of their own vain glorious hearts, reinforced by the mutterings of others. Here they had all been diligent keeping God’s laws, and going in black garments “before the Lord” in grand demonstrations of penitence, and no good had come to them or anyone else either. So, let this be the place we begin to reflect. Start asking yourself this question: Just what good is YOUR 'religion'?
Let Us Pray: Father God, as we countdown the days, as we approach this season of Lent once again, Your age old accusation remains, Your ancient words still ring loudly in our ears: 'Your words have been strong and hard against Me, says the Lord. Yet you say, What have we spoken against You? You have said, It is useless to serve God, and what profit is it if we keep His ordinances and walk gloomily and as if in mourning apparel before the Lord of hosts? Whether 2500 years ago or today, we still
cannot give any meaningful answer or offer up any legitimate excuse nor argument against it. Our claim to fame: We are just as stubborn and stiff necked as the exiles.
So, Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. Let us pray even further. O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord and Savior.
http://www.youtube.com/
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