“In religion, we try to obey the divine standards out of fear. We believe that if we don’t obey we are going to lose God’s blessing in this world and the next. In the gospel, the motivation is one of gratitude for the blessing we have already received because of Christ. While the moralist is forced into obedience, motivated by fear of rejection, a Christian rushes into obedience, motivated by a desire to please and resemble the one who gave his life for us.” [1]
Do you serve God because you feel you have to, or do you serve Him because you want to? “Religion” is going to church because you feel you must. Following the prescribed liturgy, singing the songs, paying your obligatory offering, then leaving to enjoy the rest of the day. The Gospel, whose base line is a personal, intimate relationship with Almighty God, causes your desire to become altered from “have to” to “want to”. We go to a building to worship our Lord, praise His name, become charged with a bible based message, stay around after to fellowship with the brethren. Do not mistake this fact: YOU are the church. The edifice is nothing more than a building. YOU make it alive. It’s not because we MUST do these things, but just as Christ willingly went to the cross for us, we WILLINGLY go to show our God that we are extremely grateful for all that has been done for us. What is your motivation? Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.
In His Name & for His Glory,
RL Keller
Bread of Life Ministries
[1] Taken from The Reason for God by Timothy Keller
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