"Escape Route?"

"...they have forgotten the Lord their God."  Jeremiah 3:21b

Do you have people in your life who only call you when they are in trouble and need your help?  I suppose we all do.  You never hear from them unless they have a problem or want something. 

I was thinking about this in light of our relationship with the Lord.  Sadly, most people do Him the same way.  They don't give Him any thought unless they need HIs help.  They only pray to Him when they are in need.  For some reason they think they can neglect Him and then when they are in trouble "throw up" some sort of SOS and He will come to their rescue.  To them all He really is is a "way of escape" from their problem. 

The children of Israel did this numerous times.  When things were well, they forgot God.  But when things were going badly for them, they would turn to Him.  Many times, because of His tender mercies, He would answer their cry for help.  With those who call upon Him only when they need help, many times He will come through for them too, but only because of His own nature of love and mercy.

God doesn't desire to be an "escape route".  He desires a relationship with you.  He doesn't want to only hear from you when you have a need.  He wants to have fellowship and communion with you every day-- in the good times and the bad times.  He doesn't want you to neglect Him until you need His help.  He wants to be actively involved in your life all the time.  So, which type of person are you?  One who has a relationship with Him?  Or one who just goes to Him when you have a problem?  One has a relationship with Him, but the other doesn't.     

Have a great day.  Do you have a relationship with the Lord?  Or is He nothing more than an "escape route" to get you out trouble? 

"Proper Attire"

"And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless."  Matthew 22:11,12

I grew up being taught that you always wear the appropriate clothes to fit the occasion or place.  For example, you don't wear your pajamas to work.  You wear your "Sunday best" to church.  You wear black to a funeral.  You don't wear shorts and a t-shirt to a job interview.  You don't wear white to a wedding.  Now days, it seems like anything goes.  

The way we dress, no matter where we are, may seem acceptable here and now, but one day we will be invited to a wedding and what we wear will matter.  We are all given an invitation to come to a wedding given by the King of the Universe, but the condition to whether you will be accepted as a guest or not is determined by what you are wearing.  You will have to have on the proper attire. 

You won't be able to show up dressed any way you want.  You won't be able to come dressed in "fig leaves"-- your own ability to cover your sins.  You won't be able to come dressed in dirty garments-- your own filthy righteousness.  You won't be able to come dressed in the same thing that you wore in the pig pen -- your rebellious attitude toward God.  You won't be able to come dressed in anything that has been spotted by the world.  You won't be able to come dressed in your own religious deeds, your good works or your own goodness.  You will have to be dressed in the proper garment.

What is that garment?  It is the righteousness of Christ.  You have to be "clothed in Christ".  It is the righteousness of the Son that the Father is looking for.  There is only one way to get that garment.  You can't purchase it with money, with talent, with religious acts, by church attendance, or water baptism, by joining the church or by cleaning up your act.  Actually, it can't be purchased at all.  It is given to you freely as a gift.  You receive it by faith.  Faith in the provision of God to forgive your sins that came through Jesus' death on the cross. Do you have that garment?     

Have a great day.  If you are going to get into the Wedding, you have to have on the proper attire. 

For further reading:
Matthew 22