Monday, August 01, 2005
EMOTIONAL INVOLVEMENT WITH GOD
EMOTIONAL INVOLVEMENT WITH GOD
Contributed by Dr. Dennis J. Prutow - djprutow@rpts.edu
Aug 1, 2005
An article in one of our local papers told about a fellow who did his
masters thesis on the stress experienced by teenaged athletes. This
school psychologist concluded that teenage athletics is a religion.
It's true! The passion for the game; the cheerleaders stirring the
crowd to an emotional frenzy! As the clock ticks down the final
seconds, the two teams go into overtime!
We rarely criticize such emotional involvement, except when there is
emotion with God. After all, we don't want to be accused of being
radical. Getting excited about basketball is only natural. But why get
all excited about God? Why get emotionally involved with Jesus Christ?
The point is this: If you are going to participate in a religion, you
had better get involved in true religion rather than false religion.
Now basketball is not innately evil. It is a game. Basketball is not a
god, nor are basketball games religious services. But to treat them as
such is to engage in false worship.
Better that you should engage in true worship of the God of the Bible.
Better that you should become emotionally involved with Jesus Christ.
The First of the Ten Commandments says, "You shall have no other gods
before Me" (Exodus 20:3). False worship is sin. Jesus Christ died to
pay the penalty for sin due to people like you and me.
When you turn from false worship, you must turn to Christ. When you
turn to Christ, you must trust in the sacrifice of Christ as the only
payment for your sins of false worship. Quite frankly, you must become
emotionally involved with Christ. You see, true faith is a matter of
heart. It involves your mind, your will and your emotions.
PRAYER
"Heavenly Father, you bless us with family and friends, both
spiritual and natural. Help me to love them with charity and grace. May
I always prefer your will and seek to do what is right and good in all
my relationships."
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