From Religion to Relationship Reading: Matthew 23:13-15, Philippians 3:7-11

Matthew 23:13-15 - “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. 15“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

Phil 3:7-11 - But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Devotional: Jesus had strong words for those who were merely religious without having a true relationship with God. When divorced from genuine faith, religion can become a barrier to experiencing God's kingdom. It can lead to pride, self-righteousness, and a focus on outward appearances rather than inward transformation.

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul expresses the heart of true faith - knowing Christ and the power of His resurrection. This goes beyond religious observances to a deep, personal relationship with God. Today, examine your faith journey.

Are there areas where you've slipped into religious routines without heart engagement? How can you cultivate a deeper, more authentic relationship with God? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any 'religious' attitudes that might be hindering your spiritual growth.