Religion vs. Relationship: Going Deeper with God
Religion is often about following a set of rules, while a genuine relationship with God is about a living, transformative connection. Religion can be seen as going through religious rituals, like attending church, seeking to feel clean but leaving unchanged. It’s about outward appearances, doing what’s expected, yet missing the deep transformation that only comes through a personal relationship with God. Jesus warned about this in Matthew 15:8: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” Religion can sometimes focus on external acts without addressing the heart, but a true relationship with God begins in the heart and transforms everything from the inside out.
Religion can sometimes be reduced to a man standing in a pulpit, preaching, but not necessarily leading others to a life-changing encounter with the Holy Spirit. While preaching, teaching, and finding a community of Godly people is important, the relationship with God is something that happens between each individual and the Lord. The apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Timothy 2:5: “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.” We don’t need to go through rituals or people to connect with God; we can come directly to Him, through Jesus.
A true relationship with God is built through intimate, personal time with Him. It's in those quiet moments, often alone, when we pour out our hearts to God, crying out in prayer, asking for His guidance, sharing our troubles, and thanking Him for His goodness. Psalm 62:8 invites us: "Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge." This is not about rituals or routines; it’s about seeking God as a child seeks a parent.
Think about the way a young child relies on their parent for everything: for rides, for money, for permission, for guidance. They don’t try to handle everything on their own—they depend on their parents for their needs. In the same way, we are called to depend on God for everything, realizing that without Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5). The apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:19, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Just as a child trusts a parent, we are to trust our Heavenly Father completely.
When we truly love God and seek to please Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, the struggle with sin becomes less about our efforts to "fix" ourselves and more about allowing God to do the transforming work in us. Romans 12:2 urges us: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” It’s not our own power or effort that brings change; it’s God’s work in us. The more we pursue God, the less appealing sin becomes, because our hearts are filled with His love and presence.
Many people try to overcome sin on their own, relying on self-discipline or willpower, but this often leads to frustration and guilt. Instead of fighting sin by our own strength, we are called to surrender to God’s transforming power. 2 Corinthians 5:17 assures us: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Transformation happens not through our own striving but through surrendering to God and allowing Him to make us new.
When we are truly born again and washed clean by the blood of Jesus, we not only experience personal transformation but also become a witness to those around us. Our changed lives become a living testimony to the power of God, and others can see the difference. Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” When we pursue God with everything we have, His power becomes evident to all, and they cannot deny that He is at work in our lives.
As you pursue God, you will find that sin no longer has the same hold on you. The more you look at God, the less you will be drawn to sin. James 4:8 encourages us, “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” The closer we draw to God, the more we are transformed by His holiness, and the less we desire the things that separate us from Him.
In a relationship with God, when you look at Him, you cannot help but be changed. As we seek His presence and His will, sin loses its allure because we find our true satisfaction in Him. Colossians 3:2-3 says, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” The more our hearts are set on Him, the less the distractions of sin matter, and the more we become the people He has called us to be.
Ultimately, relationship with God is about dependence, surrender, and transformation, not a set of rules. When we allow God to work in us, we experience true freedom and a radical transformation that not only impacts our lives but those around us as well. John 8:36 reminds us, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” When we live in relationship with God, the power of sin is broken, and we are made new in Christ.