Daily Devotional for Saturday, August 15

Popular Religion Is Usually False

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat,” Matthew 7:13.
I was recently at a college graduation with another person. As we approached the entry door we could see that there was a long line so we walked up and stood at the back of the long line. As I stood at the back of the line, next to us were some stairs, I thought to myself, “I know there is another entrance.” I took it upon myself to walk up the stairs and check, lo and behold there was an entrance with no line so I signaled to the person I was with to come up to this entrance, there was no line. The line was long because everybody was following the line that looked popular.
The same pattern can be seen in religion. Popular religion looks attractive because so many people are in it, however, the attraction is because there is no personal accountability. Leaders look like popular culture, the speakers appear intellectual, however, their fruit is tainted.
Spiritually, many people follow false religion because it seems popular by world standards. Jesus came to show you the right way to have a relationship with God. Because Jesus Christ is the only way to gain a relationship with God, many people look to places that have a lot of people following or a lot of people gathering; thinking because of the crowd it is the right way.
The Word of God makes entering into a relationship with God plain and easy. John 14:6 declares, ”Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

FINAL THOUGHT
If your relationship with God is based on being in a crowd, or on a popular preacher, get out of the crowd and seek Jesus Christ for yourself.

Andrew McClung