Role Playing

I've been watching more of Duncan's series of videos going through Matthew, and its very good. One in particular that ties in with the message from Pastor Harry at CRB last weekend is called "Role-play or Relationship", found here:

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=4452205795069909664

The message from this weekend was about being sick of religion but hungry for God. I can testify to being sick of "religion" where I'm just going through the motions, doing what's expected, but not really engaging in it, believing it, or enjoying it. I can also testify to getting further and further from a relationship with God as I withdrew from "religion", thinking it was all the same empty junk. Lastly I can testify to how when I started to have a relationship with God, it changed my heart and my perspective. For me this really started to happen when I repented, accepted that Jesus Christ died in payment for my sins, was raised from the dead, and asked Him to take control of my life.

From the message notes: "You need an Abraham in your life because just going through the motions is never enough to satisfy the heart God put in you!"

And on the same note, the study Duncan went through focuses on the first part of Matthew 6, show various actions, their purpose, and the result. Doing good deeds in public so that others see you only glorifies yourself, and you get no reward from God. Telling people about the gifts you've given to look good in front of other people only glorifies yourself, and you get no reward from God. Praying in public to be noticed by other people only glorifies yourself, and you get no reward from God. And so on.

The point is to ask oneself why do I do things? Do I do them for God's glory or my own? Do I do things just to look like a good Christian to the world, or do I have a relationship with God and do things for HIS glory?

I think it was two weeks ago when Pastor Harry asked why he does a lot of the things he does...and promptly answered (paraphrased, as my memory doesn't function too well): "its not for YOU, its for HIM". May I never forget that in my own life.