Nehemiah 10-11
SIGN HERE.
In today's reading, a bunch of ancient Jewish people signed a document promising to follow God and to turn from their evil ways. Not exactly riveting... to me, anyhow.
But like always, it got me thinking. All these other ancient religions require people to pray a certain way, or to attend worship a certain way, to eat certain things... blah blah blah. All these religions require SO much of a person, and what does that person get in return?
Please don't be offended by anything I'm saying, because I guess it's a free country. You can do whatever you want. But if you add up all the facts, it's like you have to literally fit YOUR lifestyle to a "god" that doesn't offer you anything.
People refrain from eating pigs, they don't intermarry with other religions, there's all this confusing stuff they have to do. In today's reading, a bunch of people decided to follow God, which don't get me wrong, is GOOD, but there wasn't a Jesus back then.
There wasn't eternal life.
Maybe I'm mistaken. But God instructed people how to live back then, and when Jesus came into the world, we were forgiven. We didn't have to make sacrifices, or follow any weird laws. Jesus Himself told people you have to simply LOVE GOD, and LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR. And in turn... you get eternal life.
It doesn't make any sense to me, why people would want to follow anyone else. Only Jesus can forgive, and only He can grant you eternal life, right? And you don't need to sign any confusing contracts to any other "god" promising to never eat pig, or not intermarry.
You just have to love God. You have to love people. It's that simple.
And yeah, I get that "loving God" has LOTS of subtitles, like following the 10 Commandments and stuff... and repenting, and maybe tithing every once in a while... but I guess what it all boils down to is if we as Christians had to sign any fancy contract, it wouldn't include anything weird or unnecessary laws.
If you're on the outside, and not sure what to believe, go over the facts a few times. I think it's pretty self explanatory. God wants to have a relationship with you, and all you have to do is accept Him.
SIGN HERE.
In today's reading, a bunch of ancient Jewish people signed a document promising to follow God and to turn from their evil ways. Not exactly riveting... to me, anyhow.
But like always, it got me thinking. All these other ancient religions require people to pray a certain way, or to attend worship a certain way, to eat certain things... blah blah blah. All these religions require SO much of a person, and what does that person get in return?
Please don't be offended by anything I'm saying, because I guess it's a free country. You can do whatever you want. But if you add up all the facts, it's like you have to literally fit YOUR lifestyle to a "god" that doesn't offer you anything.
People refrain from eating pigs, they don't intermarry with other religions, there's all this confusing stuff they have to do. In today's reading, a bunch of people decided to follow God, which don't get me wrong, is GOOD, but there wasn't a Jesus back then.
There wasn't eternal life.
Maybe I'm mistaken. But God instructed people how to live back then, and when Jesus came into the world, we were forgiven. We didn't have to make sacrifices, or follow any weird laws. Jesus Himself told people you have to simply LOVE GOD, and LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR. And in turn... you get eternal life.
It doesn't make any sense to me, why people would want to follow anyone else. Only Jesus can forgive, and only He can grant you eternal life, right? And you don't need to sign any confusing contracts to any other "god" promising to never eat pig, or not intermarry.
You just have to love God. You have to love people. It's that simple.
And yeah, I get that "loving God" has LOTS of subtitles, like following the 10 Commandments and stuff... and repenting, and maybe tithing every once in a while... but I guess what it all boils down to is if we as Christians had to sign any fancy contract, it wouldn't include anything weird or unnecessary laws.
If you're on the outside, and not sure what to believe, go over the facts a few times. I think it's pretty self explanatory. God wants to have a relationship with you, and all you have to do is accept Him.
Feel free to email me at carlygaile@yahoo.com or comment with any questions.
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