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SCRIPTURE
JOEL 2:23-32
2 TIMOTHY 4:6-8, 16-18
LUKE 18:9-14

REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “True Religion” Religion is human beings’ relation to that which they regard as holy, sacred, absolute, spiritual, divine, or worthy of especial reverence. True Religion, from the Christian perspective, is having a right relationship with God through salvation in Jesus Christ leading to a sustained spiritual empowerment and growth through the Holy Spirit. We shall reflect on the following points

1. True religion restores and empowers the worshipper.
2 True religion rewards the faithful worshipper with eternal life (Salvation)
3. True religion is not for the proud and self-righteous but for the humble and exalted.

Firstly, true religion is when God’s mission is to restore and empower those who worship Him. Joel 2:23-32 is a prophetic passage where God promises to restore the land after a plague of locusts and then, in an even greater act, pour out His Spirit on all people. This outpouring will empower everyone, including sons and daughters, old men, young men, and servants, to receive visions and dreams and to prophesy. This passage is considered the source of the New Testament event of Pentecost, which Peter referenced, stating that the prophecy was being fulfilled then and has continued ever since. This is the assurance, “You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed…And afterwards, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days… And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved…”(2:26,28-29,32) Be beloved in the Lord, unlike other religions where the worshippers are enslaved and oppressed with all manner of dehumanising practices, God restores our losses and empowers us for the edification of the church and to His Glory. You are in the true religion of Christianity, where all you need is believing in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour and through a life of obedience to God, you will remain restored and empowered by the Holy Spirit to serve God diligently. I invite you into the true religion, where God restores and empowers all who worship Him in truth and spirit.

Secondly, true religion not only restores and empowers but also rewards the faithful worshipper with eternal life. Paul has this assurance when he wrote to Timothy, “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day —and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing…the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen” (2 Timothy 4:6-8,17-18). In other words, in our Christian religion, the faithful worshipper already has an assurance of His eternal life or salvation. Let us serve God faithfully with all our mind, heart, soul, spirit and body, and we shall be certain for the gracious reward of the crown of righteousness and eternal life. Our salvation in the Christian religion is certain only when one fully surrenders one’s life to Jesus. The robber of the cross was certain he prayed to Jesus, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43) Jesus himself was certain, when He said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” (Luke 23:46), Paul we certain when He said, He will bring me safely to the Heavenly Kingdom” and indeed, Stephen was certain when He prayed ““Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” (Acts 7:59) What about you, are you also certain of your salvation in Jesus Christ? Are you sure that with your level of faithfulness to God, you can also make a declaration of certainty concerning your salvation? Let’s remain faithful to the end and be certain of our salvation.

Thirdly, true religion is not for the proud and self-righteous but for the humble and exalted. In Luke 18:9-14, Jesus tells the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector to show that God accepts the humble and rejects the proud. The Pharisee, confident in his own righteousness, prayed to thank God for making him better than others. In contrast, the tax collector, considered a sinner, prayed with humility, asking only for God’s mercy. Jesus concludes that the tax collector, not the self-righteous Pharisee, went home justified by God. In other words, true worshippers must eschew any form of pride, self-righteousness and elevation and embrace Jesus’ example of humility. We are to worship God in total humility, rely on His grace and mercy without looking down on others. Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honour. (Proverbs 29:23) Again, James reminds us that “God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble.” (James 4:6). Let’s live a life of humility and totally rely on the merciful and loving arms of the Lord to carry us always.

In summary, we have discovered that True religion empowers and restores the worshipper, true religion rewards the faithful worshipper with eternal life (Salvation), and true religion is not for the proud and self-righteous but for the humble and exalted. May the Holy Spirit continue to empower us to be the beneficiaries of the true religion. Amen.