For those of you who do not know, a “EULA” is an End-User License Agreement. It’s something that comes with most software. You know that screen that pops up explaining all the legal mumbo-jumbo you’re supposed to read before you use the software? It explains what the software company’s liabilities are, what your liabilities are and it usually absolves the software maker of any responsibility for incidental damages caused by your misuse or misunderstanding of the software. That’s an oversimplification of the EULA document, but the point is, we usually click the “I agree” button either because we don’t want to be bothered with the details, or we think we know what we’re getting into. Most of the time, we really don’t.
Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? (Galatians 4:21)
When Paul penned those words, he was challenging “Judaizers,” people who insisted that Gentile Christians had to obey Jewish ceremonial laws in order to be truly saved. His point was that these Judaizers who thought they knew the law, really didn’t.
Rather than personally getting into God’s Word and understanding for themselves what God was actually saying, they were moving ahead with their own limited understanding of God’s Word and forcing that agenda on everyone else. There are many in churches today who faithfully attend, but who never take it upon themselves to really know God. They’re moving forward with an agenda they don’t really know because have signed onto a church roll the way most people agree to a EULA. They think they know what they’re getting, but they don’t truly know for themselves. Going to a good church is important. Scripture says so (Hebrews 10:25), but it’s only one part of our overall relationship with God. Getting to know God personally is not the preacher’s job. It’s our job as individual believers. You and I need to know not just what we believe, but also why we believe it and that conviction needs to be personal. But even that is not enough. It is good to know Bible doctrine, yes, but our focus when we come to God’s Word needs to be on us truly getting to know our God. That’s what makes our relationship with God personal. It needs to be me reading God’s Word and seeking God’s face. Going back to our analogy, it’s me actually reading the EULA with understanding and hitting the agree button.
A personal, growing relationship with God is not something that can be borrowed. It’s not something that can be enjoyed vicariously. It’s something that must be engaged in on a personal level.
If you cannot remember what God taught you from your quiet time yesterday, there’s a problem with your relationship.
Be honest. When’s the last time you read your Bible and learned more of Who your God is?
[Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash]
Grace in Waves 