Foundational to my Christian life is my motivation. The Christian Life would be miserable if the motivation for me to do right was out of guilt, fear, or duty. Obedience would be hollow, tiresome, and boring.
But I am so overwhelmed by God's love for me. It is his amazing love for me that causes me to respond in obedience. That response produces joy. Below is a verse that shows Paul's motivation in sharing the good news of Jesus--God's love.
2 Cor 5:14-1514 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. NASU
I am so overwhelmed by the love and forgiveness that God has given to me, that I must act in love for God and for people.
John said it very simply: 1 John 5:2-42 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.NIV
Do you love God? There is a very simple test. Do you obey him?
Showing posts with label Motivation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Motivation. Show all posts
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Motivated by Love
Bill Bright, the leader of Campus Crusade for Christ, used to tell this story.
A husband had a grading sheet for his wife. At the end of each day, depending on how good a wife she was, he would give her a grade. She hated this pressure.
Thankfully that husband died. She married a new husband. The new husband was amazing. He just loved her, not requiring anything in response. She was warmed by his consistant kindness, compassion, and loving care.
About 5 years later she was rumaging through the attic and came across one of the old grading lists of the first husband. Her first response was anger, just remembering the pain of that relationship. But then she laughed. As she looked at the list she was now doing all the things on the list for her new husband without being asked.
Our relationship with God is like being married to the second husband. God loves us. The great love he has given us causes us to just obey God naturally in response to his love. That obedience to God is not a burden.
In my walk with God I do not think about all the things I cannot do and all the things I have to do as a Christian. I am so greatful to be loved that obeying God is the most natural thing in the world.
A husband had a grading sheet for his wife. At the end of each day, depending on how good a wife she was, he would give her a grade. She hated this pressure.
Thankfully that husband died. She married a new husband. The new husband was amazing. He just loved her, not requiring anything in response. She was warmed by his consistant kindness, compassion, and loving care.
About 5 years later she was rumaging through the attic and came across one of the old grading lists of the first husband. Her first response was anger, just remembering the pain of that relationship. But then she laughed. As she looked at the list she was now doing all the things on the list for her new husband without being asked.
Our relationship with God is like being married to the second husband. God loves us. The great love he has given us causes us to just obey God naturally in response to his love. That obedience to God is not a burden.
In my walk with God I do not think about all the things I cannot do and all the things I have to do as a Christian. I am so greatful to be loved that obeying God is the most natural thing in the world.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Delight in the Law of the Lord
I was reading ps. 1 a couple nights ago. When describing a righteous person it said that "his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law he meditates day and night."
Moral choices for the agnostic or athiest are quite complicated. You have to look at what people are doing and saying. Decide if their decisions have merit and then come up with a good plan of your own on how to live.
For the believer in the scripture it is so much easier. God says it, I believe it, That settles it. My choices, though still complicated, are pretty straight forward.
Would God be delighted in my decision? If yes, do it, if no don't. Pretty simple huh?
I saw a quote once that impacted me so much I put it up in my office. John Brown said "Think at God thinks, act as God acts".
I am motived to obey God, partly just because it is the right thing to do. But more importantly if I trust God that his desires for me come from a loving heart. Why would I want to do anything other than his will. He knows me better than I know myself, understanding what will bring me the best life possible. Proverbs says that anything else is simply foolishness.
Moral choices for the agnostic or athiest are quite complicated. You have to look at what people are doing and saying. Decide if their decisions have merit and then come up with a good plan of your own on how to live.
For the believer in the scripture it is so much easier. God says it, I believe it, That settles it. My choices, though still complicated, are pretty straight forward.
Would God be delighted in my decision? If yes, do it, if no don't. Pretty simple huh?
I saw a quote once that impacted me so much I put it up in my office. John Brown said "Think at God thinks, act as God acts".
I am motived to obey God, partly just because it is the right thing to do. But more importantly if I trust God that his desires for me come from a loving heart. Why would I want to do anything other than his will. He knows me better than I know myself, understanding what will bring me the best life possible. Proverbs says that anything else is simply foolishness.
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