Have you ever felt like faith is just a list of rules? Like it’s all about what you should and shouldn’t do, and if you mess up, God’s just waiting to call you out? That’s not who God is.
Jesus didn’t come to start a religion. He came to restore a relationship.
One day, Jesus met a group of religious leaders who were obsessed with following rules. They memorized laws, performed rituals, and prided themselves on looking holy. But Jesus wasn’t impressed. He told them: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” (Matthew 15:8, NIV)
They knew all the right words, but their hearts weren’t in it. They thought if they checked the right boxes, they’d be right with God. But God wasn’t after their performance—He was after them.
And He’s after you too.
Think about the story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42). When Jesus visited their home, Martha was busy. She ran around making everything perfect. But Mary? She just sat at Jesus’ feet, listening, resting in His presence. Martha got frustrated and asked Jesus to tell Mary to help. But Jesus told her: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42, NIV)
Martha was caught up in doing. Mary was focused on being with Jesus. That’s the difference between religion and relationship.
Religion says: Work harder, do more, be better.
Relationship says: Come to me, rest, and let me change your heart.
God isn’t interested in a checklist. He wants you—your heart, your trust, your life. He wants to take away the guilt, the shame, and the striving, and replace it with peace, purpose, and joy.
So here’s the real question: Are you just going through the motions, or are you actually walking with Jesus?
Luke 10:38-42 (NIV)
"As Jesus and His disciples were on their way, He came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to Him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to Him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t You care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’
‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’”
1. Have you ever felt like your faith was more about rules than a relationship? Why?
2. When are you most like Martha—busy with religious activity but missing time with Jesus?
3. What are some ways you can be more like Mary and focus on simply being with Jesus?
4. How can you shift your mindset from trying to earn God’s approval to simply resting in His love?
Reflect and Write:
Praise: Thank God for inviting you into a relationship instead of just a set of rules.
Confess: Be honest about times you’ve focused more on religious duty than on truly walking with Jesus.
Ask: Pray for a heart that longs to sit at Jesus’ feet and grow in real relationship with Him.
Lord, I don’t want to just go through the motions. I don’t want my faith to be about rules, obligations, or trying to prove myself. I want to know You—to sit at Your feet like Mary, to trust You with my whole heart, and to walk with You daily. Help me let go of striving and step into the joy of real relationship with You. Amen.
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