Are you religious, or are you a disciple?
For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20.
When I was a child, I had a “religious” great Aunt and Uncle. My sisters and I were thoroughly instructed on how to behave when they came to dinner. We were to watch our mouths and not eat anything until we prayed. We were even taught a little, “God is great, God is good, and we thank him for this food” prayer that we were to say before the meal.
That dear couple died long before I had any understanding of the need to be born again. I trust that they were, but I was young, they were old, and I never got to know them.
Years later, when I was fifteen, my older sister started dating a wonderful Christian man. My sister told me he was religious too, and told me to be on my best behavior around him. One time we ate together, and I was asked to say the blessing. The only one I knew was the one I learned as a child. How embarrassing! I didn’t realize that prayer was talking to God as a friend.
The man who became my brother in law was the first real Christian I ever knew up close and personal. He was different than the religious people I had been forced to go to church with. He was real. It was obvious that Jesus meant a lot to him. He didn’t do “right things” just because the Church told him to, or because he was afraid of getting caught. He truly wanted to please the Lord.
There are a lot of religious structures around that make people feel good about God. They can go through the motions, read the prayers, sing the songs, and then go home, thinking that they have fulfilled their Christian duty. But that is a far cry from the authentic Christian life. True Christians are disciples. Disciples follow the Lord.
Are you religious, or are you a disciple? The Pharisees were religious, and Jesus said what they had doesn’t cut the mustard. Our righteousness needs to exceed theirs if we want to enter the kingdom of heaven. Here’s the key. Their religious was from the outside. They worked hard at doing the right things, but they weren’t right with God because they were trusting in themselves, rather than on Christ for salvation.
Father, I confess that I get pretty pleased with myself sometimes.
I think I am a good Christian because
I read the Bible, pray, and try to serve you faithfully.
But I remember what Jesus said, “No one is good, except God alone.”
I realize that the only true righteousness I have comes
From the shed blood of Jesus on the cross.
So I put on His righteousness.
I thank you, Jesus, that you became sin for me
That I might live unto righteousness through your strips.
In Jesus’ Name, amen.
Written by Doug Carr
Copied with permission
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