As I was looking through the book of I Thessalonians today, I saw a verse, I Thess. 5:24, I have liked for a long time. It says, "The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it." What God will do so faithfully is contained in the previous verse, (I Thess. 5:23). It is actually a wonderful prayer for the end times. We know from the signs we see and hear that any day could be the last day of life as we know it. So, this is a precious prayer. "May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
This is what God will be faithful to do and it is reassuring to all believers. Let's thank the good Lord for His promises and provisions. Let us cast out fear of the future by the power of God's perfect love made known to us through His Son, Jesus! Doma
Monday, April 30, 2012
Saturday, April 7, 2012
What's Your Motivation?
Lately I have had to question the reason I do and say things. I started doing so because I realized my motivation is changing slowly, but surely. It is a good thing. Perhaps you can benefit from examining your motives as well.
When I was a teenager, I taught a religion class to children in the summer. I did it to get brownie points with God, plain and simple. It was as though God owed me something for doing a good thing. How very foolish! Scripture says of our good works, "...that men may see the good that we do and give glory to God." Not that men give us credit or praise. Of course that may happen, but if that was your motive, you are rather shallow in your devotion to God and a man pleaser to boot just as I was. (Still am to some degree.)
As long as I am examining past motivations for good actions, I can recall also doing some good deeds as a self-imposed penance for my sins, as though Christ's death on the cross was for nothing. Again, how foolish of me!
The point I am making is this; the reason you and I obey God, do good deeds, read scripture, go to church, whatever we do, say or think, must be in grateful, loving response to the perfect love and forgiveness given to us by the Father through His precious Son, Jesus Christ.
There, I said it, and put out a challenge for all of us who don't want to follow Christianity Lite or be satisfied to be cultural Christians. Doma
When I was a teenager, I taught a religion class to children in the summer. I did it to get brownie points with God, plain and simple. It was as though God owed me something for doing a good thing. How very foolish! Scripture says of our good works, "...that men may see the good that we do and give glory to God." Not that men give us credit or praise. Of course that may happen, but if that was your motive, you are rather shallow in your devotion to God and a man pleaser to boot just as I was. (Still am to some degree.)
As long as I am examining past motivations for good actions, I can recall also doing some good deeds as a self-imposed penance for my sins, as though Christ's death on the cross was for nothing. Again, how foolish of me!
The point I am making is this; the reason you and I obey God, do good deeds, read scripture, go to church, whatever we do, say or think, must be in grateful, loving response to the perfect love and forgiveness given to us by the Father through His precious Son, Jesus Christ.
There, I said it, and put out a challenge for all of us who don't want to follow Christianity Lite or be satisfied to be cultural Christians. Doma
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
