HEY MIKE! My spiritual life is really suffering. I’ve always believed in Jesus Christ and have tried to follow religious rules, but lately, I’ve changed. I swear and talk back a lot, and if someone asked me to drink alcohol or to smoke, I think I would. I know my attitude is wrong, but I’m really confused. What should I do?
—Name Withheld
You say you’ve tried following “religious rules.” It sounds as if you’re following the wrong things.
The Christian faith is about growing a deep relationship with Jesus Christ, not living up to a bunch of rules.
True, God wants us to obey His commandments and to live a life that’s pleasing to Him. But He wants us to do so out of love — with hearts committed to Him. Merely following the rules is called legalism.
The Bible says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).
Another passage reads: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).
In other words, we fix our eyes on Jesus and go into strict training with Him. Our Lord and Savior is the one who helps us run the race, and He comes alongside us when we get too tired to run.
Here’s what I suggest: (1) Stop focusing on yourself and what you can and can’t do, and start focusing on Jesus. He gives you the way to run and the strength to stay in the race. (2) Thank Him that His love for you is not based on whether you get everything right. You can’t make Him love you any more or any less. (3) Be patient with what God wants to do in you. It’s not about how fast you run; it’s about your choice to run. (4) Start meeting with somebody who can coach you in the race: your father, another older guy who is committed to Christ or a youth pastor.
Remember this: Jesus isn’t the kind of coach who screams instructions from a microphone. Instead, He comes alongside you and runs with you.
