Reflections Along the Jesus Way
June 22, 2023 – Quote for the Day:
“1) In terms of your relationship with God, do you think of what you do as more important that what you are?
By God’s grace, we are friends of Jesus. He offers us that intimate relationship so that we can…bring forth fruit (John 15:16). We are enabled to bring forth the fruit Jesus desires because he is our friend. Our flesh is capable of bringing forth fruit. But, if we are not friends of Jesus then any fruit we produce is not worthy of him – it will always fall short of the kind of fruit he can produce. Any fruit we are capable of producing is not worthy to be compared with the fruit he will produce in us.
2) In terms of your relationship with God, do you think that any physical affiliation can provide friendship with God – or conversely, deny that friendship to you?
Anyone who is in Christ, by God’s grace, is free to be a member of a group or organization – you are free to be a member of clubs and institutions. But all groups, organizations, clubs and institutions in which you may hold membership are secondary in importance to your relationship with God. And when it comes to that world ‘belonging’ – you have your priorities and focus upside-down if you think God is your friend because you BELONG to a religious institution. God is still your friend even if you profess to ‘belong’ to a religious institution. But his friendship is not reserved for those who have religious credentials.”
Originally published in:
Spiritual Soup for the Hungry Soul, Volume 2
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