Pacifiers and a relationship with God

I can still remember it like it was yesterday.

We were driving down the road near our home France and Christie, our oldest daughter (who was a child at the time) threw her pacifier out the car window - never to use it again.

I can't remember if she did it on purpose or if it was an accident - all I can remember is that it was gone.

Pacifiers come in all different kids of shapes and sizes and people call them by different pet names:  Binkys, bobber, clug, button, chwey, duda, ninny, noogie, mimi. fussifier, fussplug, num, nummy, pappy, pip, sassy, the silencer, soothie, sicky, tay-tay, the stopper, whammy, wubby, on and on it goes.

What does a pacifier do?  It gives a baby something to suck on, but it doesn't give him/her any nutrition.

Let's compare that to our relationship with Christ.

I would suggest that religion that is devoid of an intimate relationship with Jesus is like a baby that works hard at sucking on their pacifier, but from which no real nutrition flows.

I see it all the time and so do you.  Those who minister but their ministry flows from a sense of self-effort.  There is a lack of connection with God.  It is all "binky" and no "substance".

It is a false religion.

The essence of false religion is a Christian being involved in religious activity while being void of spiritual intimacy with God.

It is exemplified by a person having a ritual of religion without a relationship with Jesus.

That's the challenge to us today - thank the Lord that there are those who are working in our church - but let's not forget that ministry is to flow from a daily, intimate, connectedness to Christ - and not from self.

Just a thought for a Tuesday.