Motivated by what God has done…

Why is it that so many preachers or devotional writers focus on telling their listeners or readers what to do rather than glorifying Jesus for what He has done? It is the love of Jesus that motives godly responses. I’m rarely charged up by another sinner shaking their finger at me.

My first reading today was all about my need to follow Jesus. So were other readings. One of them quoted this passage: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend … I have called you friends.” (John 15:13, 15), and then used it to tell me I need to lay down my life for Jesus. That is true, but that is not what these words say. When my heart and mind are filled with the wonder and glory of God, responding easily follows. What folly to put the cart before the horse so why make this cart pull the load instead of the Lord?

One reading says what I always need to hear. It begins with, "Oh, what a Savior He is. Words can never express His mighty power to save! I never felt so utterly weak in myself, but Jesus is strong, and He is mine, and He saves me now. Praise His Name!"

A few lines later, the writer says, “Every moment, Lord I need the cleansing of your blood. And every moment, Lord, I have the cleansing of your blood.” I do not mean here cleansing from the guilt of sin, but cleansing from the sin itself, that cleansing which makes me “pure in heart.”

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2:24)

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)

Each day I need the good news of the gospel. My sins distract me from the reality of sins forgiven and from the power of redemption. It is knowing what is possible in Christ that gives me even the desire for purity of heart that He calls for, as well as the purity itself…

And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. (1 John 3:3)

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8)

Another reading says this: “God always answers the general design and intention of His people’s prayers, in doing that which, all things considered, is most for His own glory and our spiritual and eternal welfare. As we never find that Jesus Christ rejected a single supplicant who came to Him for mercy, so we believe that no prayer made in His name will be in vain.”

Such words edify, build faith. Telling me my duty is helpful only if I have decided not to do it and live as I want. But for the Christian who wants to live for Christ, His words of encouragement and reminders of what He has done for me always give me hope and the motivation to live for Him.

PRAY: Thank You Jesus for calling me Your friend and laying down Your life for me. Greater love has no one than this. Because of what You have done for me, I want to live for You and for the glory of Your name.

 

God’s Motive for Salvation

Last week to clear myself, I explained details about an incident to someone who had misunderstood me. I hate being misunderstood. This makes me wonder how many acts of God are done to clarify Himself, to clear up any misunderstanding we have about who He is?

For instance, if a person does something against the will of God, they might feel like He will send a bolt of lightning to correct them, but He doesn’t. Instead, sends His Son to sacrifice Himself for sin and to offer forgiveness. What does that say about the nature and character of God? He hates sin and it must be punished, but He loves sinners and wants a personal relationship with us. The only solution is a fitting substitute who will willingly take our place, a substitute that satisfies Him and is willing to do it.

But He cannot offer a salvation like this for our sakes. We don’t deserve it. Instead, He does it for His own names sake, so that we can clearly understand who He is.

Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make known his mighty power. (Psalm 106:8)

If God did not save people for His own sake, no one would be saved. The best and most moral person on earth does not deserve mercy. We all fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) because everyone sins. Even relying on my own righteousness is a sin. Consider an omelet made of all good eggs except one. That one egg ruins the entire omelet, just as one sin ruins any hope that I could measure up to God’s standard.

He saves for His name’s sake that I might hope in His name, turn to Him for mercy and grace. I might fear Him more if He showed no mercy and offered no forgiveness, but then my fear would be like the fear of a demon, a fear of despair without repentance and faith. No one could trust in Him if He did not save for His name’s sake.

He saves for His name’s sake so I can adore His name and praise His mercy. What an awesome God who can show grace when nothing is deserved but misery and guilt! Knowing I am sinful is humbling, yet knowing my God forgives and saves me anyway is more humbling. What can I do but praise His name?

The Lord saves for His own sake. When I run to Him, I am without excuse for what I have done, but salvation isn’t about my efforts or any lack of trying; it is about His grace. If I could earn my salvation with my own righteousness, I would not need Him and pride would rule my life.

On the other hand, if nothing that I do could earn favor with God and if my best efforts to be righteous deserve damnation, then there is no escaping His wrath. I would sink into the pit of sin without hope and in great despair and self-pity. Either way, the focus is on me and not Him.

Why does God save me or anyone else? He saves for His own name’s sake that He might be glorified and that my pride, arrogance and self-pity be put where they belong. He alone deserves to be exalted. Saving for His own name’s sake suits His nature and character, and it clearly reveals who He is.

It is for this reason that He saved me.

Daily directions

Using someone’s devotional writings can be positive in that God gives me new light and understanding from the way other people express their love for Him. A few write things that I do not understand or that miss the need of my heart, at least on that day. However, the reading from My Utmost for His Highest hits the target today. It affirms what God has said to me many times and gives me encouragement as I prepare for this day. The following restates it in my words.

(Jesus) said . . . “Do you love me?. . . . Feed my sheep” (John 21:17).

Jesus did not tell Peter to convert people to his way of thinking, but to look after His disciples. He was to make sure that they get nourished in the knowledge of their Lord.

I used to count as service what I did, calling it Christian work, but Jesus calls service what I am to Him, not what I do for Him. Discipleship is based on devotion to Jesus Christ, not on adherence to a belief or a creed.

Jesus said I am to come to Him and “hate” all else, or I cannot be His disciple. He does not argue or push me. He simply says that if I would be His disciple, I must be devoted to Him. He is the source of my service and the basis for what I do. I’m not moved primarily by anything else.

Many Christians substitute devotion to Jesus with their belief in a creed or a particular ideal and become devoted to causes. So few are deeply devoted to Jesus Himself because it’s easier to rally around the cause He started than to Him. Perhaps the world’s attitude rubs off on us in that Jesus remains a source of deep offense to the educated mind of today. Whatever the reason, many who follow Him hold back and are content to know Him as a buddy or a friend, no more.

Yet Jesus sets the example. His obedience was always motivated by the will of His Father, not by the needs of men or His own will. This is important. If I am devoted to the cause of humanity only, I will soon be exhausted and come to the place where my love will falter. On the other hand, if I love Jesus Christ personally and passionately, I can serve humanity even if people treat me like a doormat or a slave. Our salvation is the natural outcome of this kind of obedience. 

Devotion to Jesus means that I can say with Him, “Not my will, but thine be done.” For that, I must continually bear my cross daily, dying to my own will that I might do His will. 

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. (John 12:24–26)

As Chambers says, this focus on obedience to Jesus is an unobtrusive life. Like a grain of wheat, I am to fall to the ground and die to my own desires and passions, but because of the life of Christ in me, He can cause me to spring up and alter the whole landscape.

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Lord, Your directions are simple; leave my own ideas and listen to You. I’m to love you, daily die to self, and daily pay attention. Today I might be feeding sheep. Tomorrow I might be doing something else, but whatever I do, keep my ears open to Your words and my heart willing to do whatever You ask.

God’s motivations

A former neighbor was highly involved in community service. She told me that she “loved helping people because it makes me feel so good.”

Truly selfless actions are rare. We want ourselves to look good, and if that doesn’t seem to motivate our actions, it usually pops into play when a camera shows up. We want to be liked by others, which also comes into play as soon as someone criticizes what we do. For most, this is their way of life. For me, I’ve spent years seeking my own glory, not knowing that there is another way to live.

Today’s devotional reading starts out with, “Many people think the main reason God saves people is so that He can keep them out of hell, or so that they can experience His love or lead happy lives. But all those reasons are secondary.”

He goes on to say that God saves for His own glory and uses this verse: “For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 4:15), but he didn’t quote the first part of it!

This statement and that verse make me think. Why did God save me? If He did it for me, then the me-centered answer is that He saved me because He loves me and wanted me to be His child. This is true, yet I know that the love of God isn’t about my merit. Sinners are hardly loveable and only the most narcissistic person could think that was true.

Instead, God loves me because of who He is. It is His nature to love, to want the best for, to be patient and kind toward those He created. The Bible is clear that His love is not about me. From His perspective, God is motivated to save people because He loves us. However, from my perspective that amazing sacrificial love is a wonder and it glorifies Him.

The Bible says that God does not think the same way I do. This makes me wonder if when He thinks about doing good toward us, is He doing that to glorify Himself? Does that mean saving us for His own glory is the same as selfish me doing things for my glory?

John Piper wrote a book about the delights of God. He alone is worthy of glory and He can be joyful in Himself, needing nothing or no one to make Him any happier or more satisfied than He already is. As a human being, that is a lofty concept that most people cannot grasp. We want glory but don’t deserve it; God enjoys glory because He alone is worthy of it.

Yet there is another angle to this. I think God saves people for our sakes, just as today’s verse says. He does it for you and me, for our eternal well-being, for our present standing before Him. His salvation is selfless; He spared no cost that it might happen. This isn’t a human, “look at me” effort, but done with our need and blessing in mind.

However, because of this great selflessness and sacrificial act, He is glorified. No one else is like that. No one gives up everything that others, even who are enemies, might gain everything. This makes my salvation a glory for God. Not that He was seeking it, but because He was concerned for others, not Himself.

This is difficult to apply. I know that I am to be selfless. The mystery is that if I am focused entirely on the well-being of someone else, I am seldom aware of myself. My own needs are far from my mind and any thoughts of glory for me do not exist.

During those times (which should happen more often) I might say and do things that people thank me for and I’ve no clue what they are talking about. As this verse says, at that point it is God who needs to be thanked, not me. Salvation may be for my sake, but because He alone is worthy, any glory that comes out of it must be for His sake.