What is True Religion?

 Thought For Today – January 13
What Is True Religion?  -  By: Robert A. Searles
     What is true religion and true service to God?  Does God require continual fasting, continual sacrifices?  Does God require us to have a sad countenance, and to be constantly clothed with sackcloth and ashes, and continually be doing some sort of penance to atone for our sins?  No! We could never pay for, nor atone for our own sins.  There has been provided for us a perfect lamb -  a perfect sacrifice which was slain from the foundation of the world.  Once and for all the great transaction is done.  Our sin  debt is forever paid if we will receive it.  Christ came into the world to  save sinners.
      “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, he was  buried and rose again the third  day according to the scriptures.” 1  Corinthians 15: 3,4.  he ascended into heaven and is now at the right hand of God interceding for us.
     What then does God require of us?  God requires us to receive by faith his free love gift, his son the Lord Jesus Christ as our savior, believing that Christ died for  us – each of us, individually, and present our bodies to him for his service, and allow the Holy Spirit to be in control.
     What kind of fasting and sacrifice does the Lord require?  “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye brake every yoke?  Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house?  When thou seest the naked thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?” Isaiah 58: 6,7.
     The world is bound in wickedness.  We who know the Lord have a message and a testimony for the world.  That is – if they will accept the truth of the Word of God, the heavy burdens will be lifted and the oppressed will go free. God's  requirements for us is to deal thy bread to the hungry.  Feed a man when he is physically hungry and cannot help himself, but more importantly, feed him with the bread of life.  Tell him of Jesus the mighty  to save.
                                             Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry
                                                                                  Psalm 26:7