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A couple of weeks ago we went to church in Lindale. We discussed this question in our Bible class on Wednesday night. I really enjoyed it and thought I'd share it with you
People can come up with many answers to this question such as love for God, a yearning to do the right thing, a longing for heaven, a search for peace of mind, a fear of Hell, a search for some sort of purpose, a need for forgiveness, or a search for a relationship with God.
Really these reason can be placed into four categories: fear, faith, hope, and love.
1. Fear. Sometimes have a fear of Hell and of judgment. Hebrews 10:26-31 talks about having a "fearful expectation of judgement". People are afraid of what will happen after they die especially when they are not right with God. It is a "fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living GOd." But maybe instead of fearing Hell or judgment we should rather have a fear of God who "has the power to destroy both soul and body in Hell" (Matt. 10:28) We should fear God to some extent because of who He is. Ecc. 12:13 says, "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is man all." Fear can not be our only motivation.
2. Faith. "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1) Faith is "conviction". It is not just strong surges of emotion. Faith does encompass emotions, but it is solid. It is a foundation. True faith deals with a strong trust/ belief in God. As verse 6 of that chapter reveals faith, "believes that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." True faith motivates action.
3. Hope. Titus 3:4-7, "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, but the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Hesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope hope of eternal life." Christians have a hope of a reward, of eternal life, of heaven- of finding God. A hope of something greater in eternal life is a strong motivator (a meaningful life purpose).
4. Love. Why do people love? Because they love you back gratefulness (indebtedness), natural relationships (family, bonds). When you love someone you want what is best for that person. People also love because of a person's character- because of who they are.
All these things apply to God! Love should be our greatest motivator. Fear might have been a motivator initially. However, It should mature into love. God is our Father and creator. He has the perfect character. We are indebted to him for what he has done for us; We are grateful for His love. Christ is the example of the greatest motivation:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the would might be saved though him."
1 John 2:3-6. Knowing God and being obedient to Him leads to having a personal relationship with him "And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says 'I know him' but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word in him truly the love of God is perfected. but this we may be sure that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked."
1 John 4:7-10 "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
1 John 4:17-19 Fear is replaced by love "By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also we in this world. There is no fear in love, because perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. "
1 John 5:3-5 "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world- our faith."
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