In the song by Brian Doerksen we sing “Come, now is the time to worship, come just as you are before your God”. 

One of the reasons I hate religion is because it tells people that you have to do certain things or follow a set of rules or rituals in order to be accepted by God.  God says the exact opposite.  In Ephesians 2:8-9 it says “for it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith, and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works so that no one can boast.”  Jesus paid the total price for our sins and now invites us to come to Him just as we are.  How amazing is that? We don’t have to change to come to Him, but when we do come to Him with open hearts we are changed and motivated by love to be changed by Him.

A woman we know spent a long time in the Mormon church and in her words, said that the Mormon religion is about covering up your issues and putting on a front and making it look like everything is perfect in your life.  For years this stressed her out because she had many financial issues and things to cover up.  She had no peace.  Recently gave her heart to Christ.  She said one of the most freeing experiences she’d ever had is being able to be honest with God and to share with other Christians her struggle.  She felt peace for the first time in a long time.  It was her relationship with Christ that brought her peace, not religion.

Are there fronts we’re putting on to look good on the outside while we’re secretively miserable on the inside?  God knows all, we don’t fool Him and when we pretend everything is okay and choose not to talk to God or ask others for prayer and help we are really only hurting ourselves and potentially missing out on huge miracles and blessings that God may have for us if we’d only come to him, just as we are.

Psalm 95:6 says “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.”

Take a moment to thank God for inviting you to come to Him just as you are.  Come clean with Him.  Cleanse your heart, ask for forgiveness and be real with God so that you can worship and praise Him truly with your whole heart and mind.

May God bless you as you seek Him with your whole heart and mind.

Paul