Mar 12 + Christ vs. religion

 Today we went over another William Blake poem about chimney sweepers.

This poem was a bit more interesting because it had an aspect of religion in it. I don't consider myself religious because I just enjoy a living person and come to Him in a new way every day, but It was interesting how the poem kind of shows that religion is something impossible to fulfill. One of the themes we landed on was that it's hard to practice what is preached, but really, because of our inherited sinful nature, it is impossible to practice what is preached in religion. 

All religion emphasizes striving to have a certain human behavior and conduct in order to please God. According to the Bible, however, what God really wants to do is to reveal His Son in us (Gal. 1:16-17). He wants us to kiss the Son and take refuge in Him. (Ps. 2:12) He wants to live in us (Gal. 2:20) and make His home in our hearts (Eph. 3:17). These things all go against our religious concept of pleasing God in our own works and effort. God wants a relationship with us, not a boring and repetitive religion of people struggling to check boxes for Him.

Simply viewing this matter in the following way helps it make more sense: If you were God, would you want a bunch of poisoned (sinful) people trying to do good and behave for you, all while struggling and failing (in the end, as sinners, they'd always fail), and also never even being sure that you're satisfied with them? If you were God, wouldn't you rather reach, touch, love and be loved by, heal, fill, and supply your people with your own sinless life? In this way, your people are just enjoying you in fresh ways every day all while spontaneously overcoming sin by your constant supply of divine life and your sharing of the perfect attributes that God has. 

This is what God wants- people who live God out, not people who work for God apart from Him. It makes so much sense! So then, how does one "live God?" how does Christ make His home in our hearts? Simply by calling upon His name; staying in His presence and receiving Him as the Spirit into our Spirit as well as clearing the way for Him to expand from our spirit where He dwells into our soul so that our mind, emotions, and will can be one with His.

Praise the Lord for this glorious intimate union! Satan just loves distracting everyone, especially God's people, from God's true and very non-religious intent. O Lord Jesus, free us from the vain bonds of religion.

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