“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” (Matthew 15:8)
Religion is an easy thing. Having a principle to hold to doesn’t require us to relate to a Person. Doing outward things is much easier than letting God search our heart. Having some experience which we know how to “turn on” can cause us to think we’ve drawn near to God, while our heart may actually be quite far from real engagement with Him. We can think we are very immersed in God, but be much more religious than we realize.
God would test our faith to prove whether it is genuine. He would call us from sacrifice to obedience. Never think He will settle for something from you. He is a great God who is worthy of your everything.
Mount Moriah still awaits those whom God would call His friends.
“Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” (James 2:21-23)