And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men, (Is 29:13 ESV, 3-4-13)

Their fear of me is a command…

That’s the challenge. It stops being about experience and relationship with God and just becomes obedience to commands.

But obedience needs to spring from relationship. Activity has to originate in communion. Preaching even has to remain rooted in genuine experience with God.

Otherwise, it’s just empty obedience to human rules.

[Father, keep me grounded in relationship with you, and help everything I do flow from that.]