One of the most intriguing conversations I have ever had was with a boy who told me he doesn't go to church because God scares him. "I know the word and for that very reason I would rather stay away than fail to him" He told me that he has known the word since he was a little boy, his mom took him to church, but he was taught a God who punishes for everything and that is why he is afraid of him. We talked for a while longer, said goodbye and I haven't seen him since.

When we know a lot about a subject, it can become difficult to have a conversation because it becomes a monologue.  That is what happens in the young man's life, he knows so much that he does not give God the opportunity to converse with him, that God will answer him.

Nicodemus, a scriptural scholar, tells Jesus that he did not understand what he was saying. Nicodemus recognized that despite all he knew about the scriptures, it was not helping him to understand their meaning and how to apply them to his life. He realized that he needed Jesus to reveal to him what the scriptures meant and to make sense of it in his life.  So Nicodemus decides to stop thinking about religion and decides to act and start a relationship with Jesus.

Religion is an invention of man. The only people named by the Lord are the Jews, all the rest of us are "gentiles" who know about God thanks to those who spread his word.  Religion comes from "religare" which means to unite again; it is a set of activities or rites created by man to unite again with God. Here is the problem.

Jesus answered him, "I am the way, the truth and the life; no one can come to the Father except through me" John 14:6.

To be religious is to limit yourself to doing what religion tells you to do, a relationship is to live what Jesus asks you to live guided by the scriptures and what He reveals to you.  We are all religious in some way, we do things repetitively, prayers, songs, devotionals, attending church, among others.  A relationship is to do it out of love for Him, guided by Him; religion forms us but Christ transforms us.

The main requirement for Jesus to transform us is to accept that we are sinners, that we are wrong, otherwise, what sense does Jesus have in our lives? What is the use of having a doctor at home if I don't see myself sick?

Jesus said "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save those who are lost" (Luke 19:10). Afraid to be sinners? How good it is to be sinners because that is the main requirement for Jesus to find us! Rest assured that when He finds you He will not judge you, on the contrary, He will comfort you, He will clean your wounds, He will help you to get up with so much love that you will feel full and at peace.

I invite you to live a beautiful love relationship with Jesus; let Him find you, listen to what He has to tell you, follow His instructions and enjoy being friends with Him. "I no longer call you servants but friends" John 15:15. He calls us friends and a friend tells you what you must do, what you must change and accompanies you in the process to achieve it until you get it.

Don't walk away, don't be afraid, Jesus wants to find you and save you!

God bless you!