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True religion means whole life worship
Let’s resolve to have more ‘true religion’ Sunday 6th January 2013 If we want our new year resolutions to last, if we want to make this year significantly different to last year, if we want to draw more close to God this year, then we need to make sure that our resolutions are not empty promises, like empty religion, but that they are sincere, out of loving obedience to God. God doesn’t want hollow or hypocritical religion – he says that he can’t stand it in Isaiah 1:10-15. Instead, he wants true religion: Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows. (Isaiah 1:16–17, NLT) Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. (James 1:27, NLT) But best of all, instead of just telling us to shape up and do better, God forgives us our past sins, blots them out, as if they had never happened at all: “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. If you will only obey me, you will have plenty to eat. But if you turn away and refuse to listen, you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies. I, the LORD, have spoken!” (Isaiah 1:18–20, NLT) Isaiah goes on later in his writing in the Bible to describe in more detail the forgiveness that God offers: ‘Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.’ (Isaiah 55:6–7, NLT) As David wrote in the Psalms: The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. (Psalm 51:17, NLT) The new year is a good time to resolve to turn to God, to accept his fresh start and forgiveness, and to put ‘true religion’ into practice in our lives a more than it has been in the past.
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By CGCFLet’s resolve to have more ‘true religion’ Sunday 6th January 2013 If we want our new year resolutions to last, if we want to make this year significantly different to last year, if we want to draw more close to God this year, then we need to make sure that our resolutions are not empty promises, like empty religion, but that they are sincere, out of loving obedience to God. God doesn’t want hollow or hypocritical religion – he says that he can’t stand it in Isaiah 1:10-15. Instead, he wants true religion: Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows. (Isaiah 1:16–17, NLT) Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. (James 1:27, NLT) But best of all, instead of just telling us to shape up and do better, God forgives us our past sins, blots them out, as if they had never happened at all: “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. If you will only obey me, you will have plenty to eat. But if you turn away and refuse to listen, you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies. I, the LORD, have spoken!” (Isaiah 1:18–20, NLT) Isaiah goes on later in his writing in the Bible to describe in more detail the forgiveness that God offers: ‘Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.’ (Isaiah 55:6–7, NLT) As David wrote in the Psalms: The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. (Psalm 51:17, NLT) The new year is a good time to resolve to turn to God, to accept his fresh start and forgiveness, and to put ‘true religion’ into practice in our lives a more than it has been in the past.