We sometimes mistake religious performance for a relationship with God, convinced that if we just check enough boxes, we’re doing what He desires. The Pharisees kept all the rules, yet their hearts were far from Him. Jesus repeatedly crossed their man-made boundaries, not in rebellion, but to remind us that God cares more about what’s right than what’s merely religious. The world isn’t looking for people with all the answers; they want to see people who actually look like Jesus. May we have the courage to love like He does, even when the religious establishment won’t, because doing what’s right sometimes means breaking the rules.

How Far Do I Have to Climb?
The most famous mountain in the world is Mt. Everest. People are drawn to it from all over the world, and more than 300 of them have died trying to reach the summit. But there is another hill just outside Jerusalem called the place of the skull or the hill of death. That is where Jesus died for the sins of the world, and in order to be saved, you do not have to climb that hill… all you need to do is bow at His feet and receive Him as your Savior.



