Did you know that ‘legalism’ and ‘compromise’ are kissing cousins? It may seem hard to believe, but they are. Legalism focuses on a list of do’s and don’ts by which one lives by, and compromise goes the extra mile to avoid any list of do’s and don’ts because they believe God’s love and grace will cover them. So, what do they have in common? They both lack the needed relationship with Jesus. Legalism’s driving force is based on pleasing God and gaining acceptance into Heaven by works, and compromise’s driving force is based on the belief that God will accept them now and into heaven no matter what they say or do simply because they’ve said a prayer.
Relationship with Jesus is the ‘missing link’. There is nothing wrong with a list of do’s and don’ts as long as it is a result of our relationship with Jesus, not the basis of it by which we seek to claim his acceptance and approval. There is nothing wrong with not living by a list of do’s and don’ts provided our life is based on an active relationship with Jesus and living to please Him in all our ways.
What about you? Are you living your life by a list of do’s and don’ts? Or, are you living on the basis that the way you live has no bearing on your eternity? Or, are you living your life based on an intimate relationship with Jesus? Pursue first and foremost a relationship with Jesus, a vibrant and passionate relationship with Him, and then share it with others so they can have one as well. Eternity hinges on it.
Copyright 2012 – John Johansson
