"Making it Last" -To

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15:5 KJV)

  "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)

 So, there is this thing we must deal with, which is good, as long as it is followed and performed in the right attitude of the heart; that being religion-based faith. I know I will probably catch some grief from some over this, but one of the first things that I learned from the New Life experience, is that it is all about relationship with Christ Jesus, and not about religion. 

 If you are familiar with Jesus' parable of the, "Sheep and Goats," then you might recall that those who were the goats had figured they performed works worthy of rewards, while the sheep, although they had done works worthy of rewards, did not really count it as work. As a matter of fact, they didn't even realize it was something they had done for reward or to be congratulated for. 

 There is only one law that we abide by: the law of Love! It is because we have this special relationship with the Lord, that we can even know love, the kind of love that involves sacrifice and real forgiveness. Real love is not based on the performance of the one you are to love, but upon your dedication and commitment to love, regardless of how you are treated or not treated; being it whatever it is, you still love them and will suffer for that love, no matter how difficult it might be. 

 That is what I have learned over these last, almost twenty years! You do not give up on love! So, that said, if there is any connection between religion and the relationship, it is this: Rigorous and Relentless! What that means, is that you strictly adhere to what love stands for, and constantly push on, even when it hurts! 

 Other than that, we are blessed beyond measure, just to be loved by our Creator; the One who called us, knows us inside and out, and will ultimately judge us, based upon everything He knew, when He first choose us! You really can't get it any better than that...

"Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God's way. For the Scriptures tell us, "Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith." When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it: "Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of sin."" (Romans 4:1-8 NLT)