You study the scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very scriptures that testify about me. – John 5:39
I have been completely obsessed with this verse for over a month now. Jesus, once again, is getting on to the religious people. It is amazing how much He jumps on these guys. These guys are probably equally amazed. I mean they have to be saying in their hearts, “We know and study scriptures, we pray, we give, we are in church every week, why is Jesus not okay with us?” All of those things are not bad things, unless you think they make you a good person and therefore worthy of eternal life.
I have been on a mission lately to verify that my trust is in Christ alone. My Bible study began to make me a bit arrogant and started to feel more like I was doing it more and more to come up with something cool than just spending time with My Lord and hanging out with Him. That is the very thing I think He is saying to me right now, “Adam, I’m glad you like My Book, but it is supposed to lead you to Me.”
How many religious duties do I perform with no regard as to whom I’m doing them for? I’ve had this thing for the past couple of years where I do not eat before I preach. I declare a fast basically from supper the night before until after the sermon. At first, that drew me so close to Him and I felt such power. As time went on, I just trusted in the fast and the fast didn’t lead me to Him. It still worked. I believe He used me just as much, but He is letting me know today that I completely began to miss the point. I will fast on these days again, but I’m going to drop that for a while. I remember the first Sunday that I ate on Sunday morning. I was like, “I can’t break my streak!” That has to be the garbage thinking Jesus was condemning in this verse. I want my trust to be in Him. I want to know Him. I want to be led by Him and to Him.
I really think Christians need to beware. Ask yourself if in any way your eternal hope is placed in your service to God. There are people that believe that because they attend church regularly that they are good to go. There are people that believe that because they play on the worship team, teach Sunday School, greet, preach, read the Bible, study the Bible, give to church, give to charities, and perform many, many other religious duties that this proves that they are a good person worthy of everlasting life.
Be absolutely sure that when you draw your last breath here on Earth that you are clinging on to Jesus for dear life . . . not “well, I’m a good person.”
Lord, help me to know You, like really know You. Draw me as close to You as You ever have in my life. Let me not put my trust in anything that I do, but only in what You have done. There is and never will be another like You. Amen
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