“On Christ the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand.” Edward Motes

What I originally “saw” in this photo was a number of daggers. Then I looked closely and noticed they were the shadows of a number of rocks.

The rock was the reality and the shadow was merely the shape caused by the sun’s light blocked by the rock. No matter the position of the sun, the rock doesn’t change. The shadow does.

Religion is the shadow. It’s mankind’s attempt at being the rock that results in a series of rules that seek to either control your behavior or to conform Jesus into a shadow.

Jesus is the rock. He didn’t teach a set rules to control you, but a relational lifestyle that results in you being freed from sin’s damaging control.

Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will obey Me.” Notice He doesn’t say do this or don’t do that because He’s in charge.

No, He said love Him. This love is based in trusting Him to determine what is best for us to be and then do. And, if we actually love Him, we will then follow Him even when what we “see” differs from what He says.

A living breathing loving relationship with Jesus brings great stability to our lives – a feeling of safety and security for today, tomorrow and eternity.

Move beyond a rule based life. Learn to love Jesus, especially in the ever changing times in which we live.