Ritual or Relationship?
Crazy Love: Overwhelemed by a Relentless God
Chapter 3: Crazy Love
The whole chapter comes down to this one question. The answer to this question will really help us determine what kind of a relationship we have with God.
Do we love/serve God because we feel that we should or because we really want to?
That’s it. Do you see the difference between someone who loves/serves God because they should (it’s the right thing to do) and someone who loves/serves God because they want to? There is definitely a big difference between the two. One is a act surrounded by legalistic ritual and the other is a relationship driven by personal desire.
When we read our Bible, do we read because we feel that should or because we want to? When we pray, do we pray because we want to talk with God or because we feel that should because we’re supposed to? What about acts of service? Do we serve God because we love Him or do we serve in order to not annoy Him? One could say, “Well, I serve God out of obedience.” My question in response to that would be, why do you obey? Do we obey because we want to or because we should?
If we’re not careful, we will begin to treat our relationship with God as a set ritual and not as a personal relationship with the Savior. When that happens, we become more concerned with the “dos” and “don’ts” and the “thou shalts” and “thou shalt nots.” It becomes more about rules and regulations than it does about the relationship. What good is ritual without the relationship?
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Obviously we struggle. Sometimes it seems that our relationship with God is not what it should be and that’s ok… to an extent. It’s ok because we are mere humans, but it’s only ok when we have the determination and discipline to get back up and pursue after God. Humanity ought never be an excuse to intentionally slip up or to stay in some kind of fallen position. The Apostle Paul is a prime example of a human failing successfully. In Romans 7, Paul writes about his own struggle with sin and how it keeps him from doing the things he should do. However, in Romans 8, he writes about the inseparable love of God that keeps us. Further yet, in Philippians 3, Paul writes to us about the importance to pursue God; to “press toward the goal.” He admits his own imperfection and that he’s missed the mark, yet he continues to strive; to pursue.
We are human; we will fall, but let’s not allow that to keep us from striving after God. We will never be perfect this side of heaven, yet we must keep going in this pursuit of holiness.
