Relationship, Not Rules

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

— Ezekiel 36:26

Many times, when somebody is born again, the first things they are told are: “You need to change your hairstyle, or dress differently. You have a tattoo that needs to be covered up. You’ve got an earring in the wrong place.” Their introduction to Christianity is a list of rules, things they must do, and things they must not do, according to what people think is right and wrong.

Read This: God Is Greater Than Your Fears

Sadly, too many times no one talks to them at all about their heart or their relationship with God. Instead it’s about all these things they have to do if they want to be part of a particular religious organization. Although God will lead us to make positive changes in our lives, He totally accepts us as we are, and we need to do the same for new Christians. Give them time, and God will lead them by giving them new desires.

Jesus died so we could have a deep, passionate, personal relationship with God. He didn’t die to give us a list of rules. He gave us something much deeper and much better—He gave us access to God so that we could be in close personal relationship with our heavenly Father.

Prayer Starter: Thank You, Lord, that You want a close, intimate relationship with me, and that You patiently change me from the inside out. Help me to remember this when I’m tempted to be too hard on myself or others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.