Religion or Relationship

After the LORD had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.”                                                           Job 42.7

NIV Study note (pp 779, 780): Despite Job’s mistakes in word and attitude while he suffered, he is now commended and the counsellors are rebuked. Why? Because even in his rage, even when he challenged God, he was determined to speak honestly before him. The counsellors, on the other hand, mouthed many correct and often beautiful creedal statements, but without living knowledge of the God they claimed to honour. Job spoke to God; they only spoke about God. Even worse, their spiritual arrogance caused them to claim knowledge they did not possess. They presumed to know why Job was suffering.

This note succinctly gives us the significant differences between religion and relationship with God. Religion will cause people to mouth creedal statements – often correct and maybe very beautiful, but of no real worth. Religion is often exercised without living knowledge of God. Religious zealots often claim knowledge that they do not possess.

Relationship with God will give us the truth. It will guide us in all truth for we know the truth – Jesus. Relationship gives us living, loving knowledge of God. In relationship with God we can say, as Job did:

            “I know that you can do all things;

              no plan of yours can be thwarted.”  (42.2)

Lord God,

I cry out for relationship with You. My true and earnest desire is to get closer to You, to go deeper with You, to enter into the sweetest, awesome, intimacy with You. And to share this with others.

I pray that You would hear this petition and be willing to bring it to pass. I look to You in love and adoration. I rejoice in You, Wonderful God.          Amen.