PASTOR JOHN COLLINS DAILY DEVOTIONAL: FAITH IS NOT A CHECKLIST

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, EVANGELIST: ROUTINE RELIGION

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When Jesus walked and taught, He was not creating more landmines for humanity to get around.  God sent Jesus to teach and bring people back to God because, people being people, those in charge set up roadblocks and traps that prevented people from getting closer to God.  The routines of religion became the focus instead of the worship and appreciation of God.  Jesus went after the Pharisees and the Sadducees because those men set up rules that God never created.  The answers Jesus gave to these men frustrated them because His responses were righteous and they couldn’t argue with Him.  Today, the same thing has happened with the rituals of Sunday morning church and organized religion.  The practices have become routine and empty, devoid of passion for God.

 “When you allow the routine of your religion to become the religion itself and you rely on going through the motions and requirements of that religion then you have been blinded and have fallen into the ditch. Faith is meant to guide you, to strengthen you and to give you the knowledge and confidence in God that allows you to live your life according to His standards. Your faith is not meant to become a routine of bullet points that you tick off in order to complete the list of obligations so that you can meet the minimum requirements that will allow you to reap the rewards without interrupting your life and your pursuit of happiness in any extreme way.” Pastor John Collins, January, 2018.

Faith is not a checklist.

Pastor John Collins writes daily thoughts and devotionals designed to explain the gospel in the way it is meant to be understood, the purpose of these messages is to educate according to the Scriptures, help grow faith in others and assist others in becoming more submissive to the will of God.  Pastor John Collins wants to encourage people to become righteous followers of Christ, not to continue the comfortable routines that have been done for so long that leaves people questioning and wondering that there should be more.

Pastor John Collins is an evangelist and head pastor of Love That Cross Ministries and John Collins Ministries.  For several years, Pastor John Collins has been travelling the United States spreading the word of the Gospel and igniting revival in the faith of those who hear him.  Pastor John Collins recognizes that the Holy Bible has been manipulated to control people, to suppress populations, and to serve the leaders who present it instead of serving God who wrote it through His divine influence upon people.  The Holy Bible is meant to be a guideline for living in a righteous manner, in a way that would please God in all ways.  Pastor John Collins preaches that God is far from pleased with us and the way the world is now, and the time has come for change.

Pastor John Collins writes:

 “But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of dead, both of the just and the unjust. This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.” Acts 24:14-16 (NKJV).

Paul was speaking of the Way in which we should all live in accordance with the commandments of God and in belief of Jesus Christ as our Savior. There is truth given to men by God and we are to respond to this truth with faith and let our behavior be of righteousness in order to attain salvation upon our deaths so that we can be among the just in resurrection. The Israelites were not as clear about resurrection and heaven and hell. The afterlife was not spoken of in definitive terms but it was clear that God chose the Hebrew people to reveal His commandments and they received the oracles and Laws. Jesus made it clear that He was the way to righteousness and to heaven. Unfortunately, religion has become a stumbling block for godliness.

The Israelites were given instructions on righteous behavior and how to live their lives daily and even they stumbled over the ‘rules’ of it all. That became the basis for so much instruction in the New Testament which has led to the ‘Christians’ doing the same thing. You cannot separate your life from your faith. You cannot have religious observances and sinful living simultaneously. That is the problem that people have always had. They compartmentalize their faith and their lives. The Way is to become your way of life, your standard of living and your faith is to guide you in all that you do. Religion is a stumbling block because the doctrines of men have taken over just as the oral tradition of men took over in Judea so long ago and yet it is these traditions that are still in control of the ‘faith’ of people.

When you allow the routine of your religion to become the religion itself and you rely on going through the motions and requirements of that religion then you have been blinded and have fallen into the ditch. Faith is meant to guide you, to strengthen you and to give you the knowledge and confidence in God that allows you to live your life according to His standards. Your faith is not meant to become a routine of bullet points that you tick off in order to complete the list of obligations so that you can meet the minimum requirements that will allow you to reap the rewards without interrupting your life and your pursuit of happiness in any extreme way.

Your faith in Jesus is meant to give you hope and the courage to live your life as His servant. As His disciple you are meant to follow His example always not when it is convenient. Those who follow Christ will experience unpleasantness and will stand out in this life because as the world hated Him it will indeed hate you. Let the love of the Lord seep into you and flow through you and you will live a life that shines for Jesus and you will reap the rewards that are promised by God. Do not allow your ‘religion’ to be routine, compartmentalized or stagnant. Trust that the way you live your life will determine whether your resurrection is of the just or the unjust and both will be judged.

“Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?’Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” John 14:5-6 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

Jesus taught His listeners and disciples to not use vain repetitions or draw attention to themselves in prayer, not to let worship to become ritual-knowing full well that is what the Hebrew priests, Pharisees and Sadducees had led the Hebrews to, drawing them away from God and more to themselves and the actions rather than the righteous of God’s commandments. Here we are, 2000 years later with people in the pulpit doing the very same thing that Jesus taught not to do.

Pastor John Collins is redeeming the Gospel and the Scriptures.  On Sunday mornings at 1000 a.m. Mountain Time, you can listen to Pastor John Collins and Marty Smith on Heaven’s Country Radio by linking to www.heavenscountry.com.  Other sermons, radio recordings, interviews, blogs, and Youtube and media of Pastor John Collins can be viewed by clicking on the links found within this post.  Pastor John Collins can also be reached at jc65777@yahoo.com for prayer, ministering, or to discuss the possibility of guest speaking, preaching or revival at your group, church, or gathering.  Pastor John Collins very passionately puts it he is in it to win it for God.  Believe that!