There are many religions in the world, but there is something much better than  religion for us!  It is a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. In the text today, we see a man that was rejected by religion, but accepted by Jesus.  What changed in his life?, What are some of the signs of the same changes in your life when you know Jesus compared to the things that religion produces in a life?

We see that knowing Jesus produces a committed life, willing to leave everything to follow Jesus.  We cannot have a “Sunday only Jesus.”

We see that knowing Jesus also produces a criticized life, both of Jesus and of His followers.  When we spend time with sinners, the religious will not understand why.

Remember that Jesus receives the sinner, but rejects the self-righteous.  They don’t need him, but those that know who they were, know what HE has done in their life, and know who they are now, realize how great His love is for us and for others.  Which do you have today, religion or relationship?