There Is No Substitute

John 5:39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.

Oh how easily we can be deceived. The religious people of Jesus' day had the Old Testament Scriptures that clearly pointed to Jesus; yet, they did not recognize their Messiah. They had the Scriptures, but still did not truly understand who God was. Can I warn us about something today? Can I strongly encourage us to take great care not to substitute our relationship with Jesus with something else? This is what I mean... There are many of us who have equated reading the Bible, and being able to quote it, with having an intimate relationship with Jesus. I have known unsaved men who can quote Scripture, but it was of no spiritual or eternal value to them. Some of us also equate staying busy in ministry as being equal with having an intimate relationship with Jesus. Sadly, that is not the case. Please hear me. While reading God's Word, committing it to memory, and serving, are all good things, they are not in any way substitutes for a personal and intimate relationship with Jesus. On the contrary, a desire to read, study, and memorize God's Word, as well as serving Him and others, must all be grounded in, and founded upon, a personal and intimate relationship with Him. Start with Jesus, because only in Him do we have life eternal. Let all else we do come from a love relationship with the One who gave His life to save us.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).