Reading
SAA Notes
What makes religion WORTHLESS? Jeremiah and other prophets dwell on this question at length. Worthless religion is when truth perishes, when we don’t practice what we preach, when there is no awe of God’s presence. Remember how you felt as you entered the headmaster’s office in primary school!
SJA Notes
* Holy God, please sink us in self and raise up You and Your word up.
“But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’ But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward.”
Our God is not happy with false religion.
He wants true heart religion, our lives as living sacrifices to Him – Made possible through sending Himself (Jesus, God the Son) as the once-for-all sacrifice that atones for our sin.
Our God is not a toothless tiger or a grumpy old man.
He is the righteous, holy, all-powerful and sovereign GOD!
Are we walking in our own counsel?
Are we walking in the stubbornness of our own hearts?
Are we walking in disobedience, bending our ear to every word except our Lord’s?
We can be encouraged to examine our lives for false religion and bring it to our God. He can take care of it. His strength is enough, His love abounding, His faithfulness steadfast and true.
* Father God,
On our own we are helpless and hopeless. Before You we cannot stand on our own merit. Our best thoughts and words and deeds are grubby hand-prints showing the stain of our sin.
But thank You for saving us! Thank You for our Good Shepherd, our King Jesus – The good news for the world!
Please help us flee from false religion and rid ourselves of deceptive practice.
Please help us stand firm in the truth found in Your word.
Thank You that in You we can have life and worth.
Amen.