So, my very dear friends, when you see people reducing God to something they can use or control, get out of their company as fast as you can. (I Corinthians 10:14 MSG)
Mom always used to have conversations with me about the friends I would make because she knew the 'danger' in making the wrong ones. Maybe the danger wouldn't be physical, but the emotional strain could be there - emotional distress I didn't need or want. Perhaps the danger would come in the form of being led into activities I really shouldn't pursue because they would be harmful to me. Yet there is no relationship as harmful as the one that interferes with the purity or sanctity of my relationship with Jesus. When anyone tries to reduce God to someone they can control, or discounts his power or authority, they aren't the ones we want to keep company with for very long!
How do we reduce God to something we can control? One of the most common ways is through having 'religious practices' or rituals but really have no genuine faith in God. In other words, there is a testimony of belief, but there is no actual proof of that belief in their lives. From Old Testament times into the present, people have gravitated to what 'felt good' in religious practice rather than toward what might have actually changed their lives for the best. Those individuals make the 'practice of religion' their focus and not the relationship of true 'religion'. They think all the rituals and practices will somehow persuade God to lean heavily in their favor and grant them all they need or want.
In Old Testament times, God referred to this as being 'hollow' or 'meaningless' in their worship: "These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their hearts aren’t in it. Because they act like they’re worshiping me but don’t mean it." (Isaiah 29:13 MSG) They act like it, but their heart isn't behind their actions at all. God is also not what I refer to as a 'vending machine god'. He isn't just there for us to go to when we have needs and ask him to 'dispense' whatever it is we need, while ignoring him at any other time. We cannot manipulate God and heaven knows we have tried that since the beginning of time. We want something, make God a pledge or promise if he grants it, and then we forget all about the promise once we get what we wanted. God isn't impressed!
Mom always used to have conversations with me about the friends I would make because she knew the 'danger' in making the wrong ones. Maybe the danger wouldn't be physical, but the emotional strain could be there - emotional distress I didn't need or want. Perhaps the danger would come in the form of being led into activities I really shouldn't pursue because they would be harmful to me. Yet there is no relationship as harmful as the one that interferes with the purity or sanctity of my relationship with Jesus. When anyone tries to reduce God to someone they can control, or discounts his power or authority, they aren't the ones we want to keep company with for very long!
How do we reduce God to something we can control? One of the most common ways is through having 'religious practices' or rituals but really have no genuine faith in God. In other words, there is a testimony of belief, but there is no actual proof of that belief in their lives. From Old Testament times into the present, people have gravitated to what 'felt good' in religious practice rather than toward what might have actually changed their lives for the best. Those individuals make the 'practice of religion' their focus and not the relationship of true 'religion'. They think all the rituals and practices will somehow persuade God to lean heavily in their favor and grant them all they need or want.
In Old Testament times, God referred to this as being 'hollow' or 'meaningless' in their worship: "These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their hearts aren’t in it. Because they act like they’re worshiping me but don’t mean it." (Isaiah 29:13 MSG) They act like it, but their heart isn't behind their actions at all. God is also not what I refer to as a 'vending machine god'. He isn't just there for us to go to when we have needs and ask him to 'dispense' whatever it is we need, while ignoring him at any other time. We cannot manipulate God and heaven knows we have tried that since the beginning of time. We want something, make God a pledge or promise if he grants it, and then we forget all about the promise once we get what we wanted. God isn't impressed!
A heart that is humble, truly committed to maintaining a relationship with Jesus, and obedient to his teaching makes for a good companion in life. Keeping ours obedient and open to his teaching might just require us to have companions who share these same life goals. The closer we get to Jesus, the more we might recognize there are some relationships that really aren't all that great for us to maintain. If that is the case, respectfully and lovingly let them go. They aren't helping you grow - they are just holding you back. Just sayin!
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