Not a list of rules

Eph.3v7- I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of His power. In times past and still ongoing in some places you are handed a list of rules to follow..this is what you must do to be a Christian.  You must not do this, You must do that, step out of line and no no no, you are no Christian. You must speak a certain way or you are not in Faith. Lord help us. Paul said it well. He became a servant/follower of the gospel not of his own doing but by the working of God's grace brought to bear by God's power.
         Should you be reading the bible? Should you be praying? Should you be attending worship services? Should you be???? Yes however none of these things make you a servant of the gospel. Pastor this weekend spoke on the differences between being religious and being 'born-again' or a servant of this gospel. Following a list of rules of do and do not's will not reconcile you to God. It will just make you religious and miserable. You can not work your way into God's good graces. When you make Jesus Lord of your life you will find love at work.. You read, pray, attend ect because you are so in love with The Lord . It becomes a Joy not a chore, rule ect.
       I heard a few years ago something that tickled my mind. A religious person and  a servant of the gospel will many times end up in the same place, doing the same things. The difference is one is doing it in their own power and grit their teeth getting there and the servant of the gospel is involved, doing it in joy. You can only grit your teeth so long. Have you noticed the ones who live by religious rules not Holy Ghost fuel are most miserable. Sour faced, sour spirited, sad, sad, sad. But let them fall in love with Jesus and their countenance changes.
    So does this mean anything goes? As Paul said one more than one occasion,'Heaven Forbid'. Of course there are behaviors that should not be named among the brethren.Of course as you grow there are expectations of better behaviors..But those behaviors, lifestyles, ways of being are fueled by the power of His(God's) grace. We attain it through Him, our love of Him spurring us onward and upward. So it is all in Him and through Him that we come, grow and live. No list of rules can accomplish it..but by the power of His grace we shall overcome.