RELIGIOUS BURDENS

For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. Matthew 23:4

Jesus hated the religious hypocrisy He saw in His generation. The Scribes and Pharisees were religious leaders who made themselves out to be the “authority” over the people. However,Jesus recognized that they were more interested in impressing people than God. Jesus said, “They do their works to be seen by men” (Matthew 23:5). The Hypocrisy of their ways was not what bothered Jesus the most. It was the burden that their false ways placed upon the people. A burden of religious expectation that none could carry. Not even the instigators themselves. These so called leaders could put burdens on people,but could not help to lift those burdens. This is what religion does. The man made rules and regulations become a law that binds instead of a principle that leads to life.

Many people today are under the burden of religion. They want so desperately to be accepted by God and be “good enough”. So they ask what is expected of them. What are the rules of this religious game so I can know how to win? But the rules imposed by religious leaders are so burdensome that nobody wins. People are just made to feel even worse when they cannot keep all the rules and don’t measure up to the standard.

This is where grace comes in. God in His grace helps us to fall in love with Him. That accepting love elevates us and causes us to live at a level that fear and obligation cannot reach. Love is above the law. You cannot legalize God. You can only worship Him and love Him. Rules will always break down. They will always be limiting. But love never fails, never ends, and never changes.

So don’t give into the peer pressure of religious leaders. Don’t allow their burdens of legalism to weigh you down. Let God’s spirit and God’s love be what goes before you and what comes in behind you. For where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (2 Cor. 3:17)!

Today’s prayer: “Lord may I be acceptable in Your sight, not because I keep a set of rules, but because I keep You in my heart.”

Keep looking up,
Pastor Gary