We Can't Have it Our Way.

Dear Church, There's an idea that's broken in to our system that tells us we have a "personal relationship with Jesus." To a degree, Jesus is very personal. I'll grant you that, but if we're honest, what we really mean by this is "I don't need the church, I don't need to follow the Bible or Sound Doctrine. I can have Jesus on my terms." This is a patently false idea we must eliminate within the church and, especially, within ourselves. A famous fast-food chain says "Have it your way." To a degree this isn't necessarily true: they have their way of doing things and can modify their products, to a degree, to suit you, the customer's wishes. However, even in this circumstance: we still must pay for the product. We can't demand it for free (we could, but we wouldn't get anything!), there's a set price for it, and while it is personalized, it is their product, made their way, consumed by us.

In a similar way, Jesus is personal with each of us, and yet He demands obedience (if you love me, keep my commandments). Jesus promised not one of His words would pass away. He established the church, and He stands upon His own word: you can't have it your way. It's His way....yet take heart, His way is so much better than our own! His way leads to peace, and joy, even in trial, temptation, and tribulation. He is faithful and just to forgive, if we but confess our sins, He is at the right hand of the Father, our advocate at all times. He says ask in His name, and He will grant it! If it's in His will, and His way, it's a full and abundant life we can live, here and now! So stop fighting Him, and submit to Him! His way is so much higher than ours! Titus 1:10-16 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.