Sometimes the weight on my shoulders looks a lot like religion. Routine, expectation, and duty. Finding my "place". Checking off the list. Read this. Sing that. Go here. Repeat. God wants our praise. He wants obedience. He asks of us time, energy, a relationship, knowledge of his Word, a good fight, relationships with other Christians, dedication, persistence, perfection, trust, good spirit. There's always something I need to work on. If I could just get this part right, I'd be okay.
But I keep forgetting that God doesn't need us. Our praise doesn't make Him any more worthy. Obeying him doesn't make him stronger. He doesn't need our trust to control the world around us. He doesn't need your opinions or concerns to know what's best. He doesn't need the church to claim victory. Our acceptance doesn't change the cross.
When God is more than an obligation, everything changes. If our words don't change God, if our praise doesn't touch his brilliance, if he doesn't depend on us, what is it for? We go to church and we sing a song as one body. It's not changing God, it's changing us. We remember what he's done and who he is. We invite him in and surrender our hearts as we lift up our hands. We feel his joy as we dance and shout. We're lifted up by one another. The world sees our love on display. I pray and I know God's faithfulness. I feel his presence drawing me in. I taste heaven and long for the hereafter. I give and I get back more. I love and it molds me into a new creature, out of the mud, bathed in light, open and empathetic.
Take off the weight, the burden of religion. You won't find your worth there. You can't prove yourself, repay a debt, earn love or eternal rewards. You can't lengthen your life. God doesn't depend on your tithe. He's not held down by your imperfections. He doesn't need your help. He just wants you.
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