Religion or Relationship???

One of the most eye opening things that Jesus did was to spend time with people that others did all that they could to avoid.  In fact, Jesus developed a very poor reputation among the religious elite because he did this.

It seems that religious people have always had a hard time being around those they considered less important and certainly those who were less religious.  Oftentimes religious people seem to think that their mission in life is to point out the evil in others. Religion can get in the way of what God is doing!

Jesus did not do this.  Instead, he went out of his way to be with these people to let them know that in spite of all that they had heard or been taught, they mattered deeply to God.  He wanted them to know that God loved them and that his grace and mercy was available to them.  Relationship is what matters.

Just a couple of days before Jesus was arrested, check out where he was spending time:

While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.” (Mark 14:3)

Jesus was spending time in the home of a leper.  No self-respecting religious person would do that.  But Jesus was not about religion-he was about relationship.  He came that we might have a relationship with God-not religion.

What about you?  Are you into religion or relationship?  What kind of people do you spend time with?  How would God want to us you in the lives of those others try to avoid?  Are there any relationships you need to pursue?