Many people spend much of their time trying to perform religious duties.  Religious duties that help them feel as though they are doing something that really obligates God to bless them, or to save them.

They may have it in their mind or heart; If I just help this neighbor build that fence, then God will save me.  It could also be in the mind;  If I just attend Church services once a week (or maybe on Christmas or Easter), then He is obligated to help me.

It can be related to participating in sacramental worship as well.  If I am “baptized” then God saves me.  If I take communion then God saves me.  Well, those are works of religion.  God is obligated to no one; no matter how religious one may be.

Hear the words of the prophet Micah:

“Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Micah 6:6-8 (KJV)

No matter what our offerings to the LORD are we are told the requirements of the LORD.  “To do justly”, “to love mercy”, “to walk humbly with our God”; that is His requirements for His people.

That kind of life only begins through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  No matter how loudly you may boast that you are a Christian; if these things be not in you, and grow forth from your daily life; then you are in grave trouble.