Thursday, March 22, 2012 (All day)
How can you put your finger on what is missing in religion? How can you find a way to deeper meaning and understanding?
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[Steve Myers] It's spring time here in the Northern Hemisphere and many people turn their thoughts to Easter—can't help but walk into stores and see decorations, sales, the Easter baskets and the bunnies and the chocolate—they're all for sale out there in the stores. So it can't help but come to mind for most people.
Now, it also is a reminder for many that this is the time that they go to church. In fact, maybe one of the only times they go to church. They have a name for Christians that only go at Christmas and Easter. And they call them C & E Christians—Christmas and Easter is the only time they tend to go to church.
Now you might say, well, why is that? I think there's a couple of interesting things about that when you think about it. You know, they only go at certain times, I think, because they have a sense that something's missing. Why wouldn't they go all the time? Why wouldn't they be more dedicated? And what is it that's missing for so many Christians that they'd only go a couple of times a year. Well, I think part of it plays into what is the purpose for a relationship with God.
There was a rich young ruler that came to Jesus Christ. Now, he wasn't a C & E Christian—it wasn't around at the time. But he posed an amazing question to Christ. He said, "What should I do that I may have eternal life?" That's in Matthew 19:16-22. And Christ said something interesting. He said, "Keep the Commandments." And the young man said, I have, I've been keeping these. He said, "What do I still lack?" And Jesus said, "If you want to be perfect, go sell what you have, give to the poor and you'll have treasure in heaven and come follow Me." Now, specifically for the rich man, Christ said you have to put off those things and follow Him. And I think that's the key—following Christ.
Perhaps C & E Christians have a sense that there is something lacking in religion today. And I believe they're right. There is something lacking in religion. And oftentimes it comes back to the point of what did Jesus Christ teach.
Are we truly following what Jesus Christ did? Now if you were to flip all the way back to the end of the Bible, 1 John chapter 2, the Apostle John tells us we're to walk as Jesus walked (1 John 2:6). Now that can't be a just once in a while kind of thing. That's something we need to be dedicated—just like He encouraged this rich young man to be fully dedicated in following Him.
How do you fill in what's missing? Well, we can fill it in by following the truth of Jesus Christ. Now, do you know what that is? For all of us, that's a challenge. What's missing in our relationship with Christ? This time of the year, we need to line up and make sure we have that direction and that we're following that direction.
So, get your Bible open. Check it out. Look to the source and find what's missing and let's look to Christ and follow Him.
That's BT Daily . We'll see you tomorrow.
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