What motivates God?

Today’s reading points to the sinfulness of man and raises the question of why did God allow Adam and Eve a choice regarding that forbidden fruit? He could have made them unable to even want it. 

 Instead of focusing on our sinfulness and how it is so easily provoked, another reading asks a different question. Would it be wise of God to create humans in His own image, people with freedom to live in freedom — and yet restrain that creature from following its liberty? Would it be good of God to force His creation to be happy against their will? Adam was given power to to live in faith. Would it be contrary to God's goodness to deny Adam the free use of that power? 

To make a creature, and not let that creature act according to the freedom of his nature, would make us puppets. No way He make a law to govern His rational creatures and then give them no choice but to obey it. That would not be called obedience. It would defy the goodness in God to create humans with liberty and then govern us in the same manner as He created animals to be governed by their God-given instincts.

Rather. God made the world that the riches of His nature could be communicated to others by many means, particularly those made in His image. He did not richly bless us to make Himself happier. Instead, His Word says we are “to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good” (Deuteronomy 10:13) not for His good. Otherwise, who and what God is would be unknown to anyone but Himself.

In other words, God intended to communicate His goodness in creation, not to acquire any goodness, or excellency from creation. He wants His goodness to be known and  acknowledged. All His works are motivated by His goodness. Wisdom is involved in His creative work as is His power, yet goodness motivates His actions.

“Everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.” (1 Timothy 4:4) The psalmist expressed this also:

There are many who say, “Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!” You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. (Psalm 4:6–7)

How then does sin affect the goodness of God? Not at all…

What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? (Romans 3:3)

Instead our fall into sin is not a blemish to His goodness, but provides His way of redemption that destroys the works of sin and the devil and glorifies God. Even sin the goodness of His grace! Contrary to worldly thinking, sin opens the door to finding out more about God’s mercy and goodness: 

For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! (Romans 11:32–33)

PRAY: I have to say that even though You do not want me to sin, and You command me to obey and give me the power to do it through your marvelous salvation work, when I do fail and choose to do my own thing rather than Your will, You are still good. In mercy and grace You restore me and grant me forgiveness to move on toward the righteousness that You, in great goodness, want for me. Even so, the most blessed result is a renewed ability to know and worship You.

A life given for our life...

In Canada, today is Remembrance Day. In the USA, it is called Veteran’s Day. Either way, this day we are to honor those who gave their lives that we might live in freedom from oppressive entities that tried to rule over us.

This day bears a vivid resemblance to what the Lord Jesus Christ did for us when He went to war against sin and Satan, dying on the cross that we might be free from sin that otherwise rules our lives. The Bible lists some of those extreme sins, such as murder, hatred, and so on, but it also spells out the root of all of them:

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)

Doing my own thing is a sin that is expressed in so many ways, some extreme and some easily hidden, yet nevertheless my way rather than the way of the Lord.

As I wear a poppy and remember the men and women who gave their lives for our physical freedom, I also think about Jesus who gave His life for my spiritual freedom so I could be no longer a slave to sin but a child of God, able to truly have a choice in what I do. While an unforgiven sinner, my way was the only way, my only choice, but now, in Christ, I can choose to obey Him and enjoy freedom. It is just as He said to those who claimed to believe in Him:

“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:31–36)

This isn’t about freedom to do as I please. It is the freedom from having no another choice than going my own way — which is sin!

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. (Romans 6:1–7)

The word ‘death’ has several meanings, yet most of them are about separation… separation of the spirit from the body as in physical death, or separation of the soul from God as in spiritual death, or separation from sin to serve Christ as in being dead to sin and alive to God in the new life that Jesus gives. This is a death most welcome because it set me free from the only choice of running my own life, to the two choices: walking in the flesh or walking in the Spirit. The NT describes this well. See Romans 6:8-18 and also:

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery… But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (Galatians 5:1; 16–18)

PRAY: Jesus, the wonder of being able to walk in the Spirit certainly fills life with continual God-surprises. Not only do unexpected blessings happen to me, but I say and do things that are not premeditated and surprise me and bring blessings and smiles to others. Your freedom is utterly amazing and most certainly the way to live. “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20) And the red poppy reminds me also of Your great sacrifice.

Grace is free — for us . . .

 

“In [Christ] we have redemption through His blood.” (Ephesians 1:7)

My husband reminded me this morning that most people assume that giving their lives totally to Christ means they will never have any fun. He added, “That is such a lie.” I checked the Word of God; it  speaks of joy and peace hundreds of times. I must admit that giving up control to another is difficult whether it is government leaders, police, doctors and in relationships of all kinds including marriage. Most resistance to submission boils down to a lack of trust as well as ‘I’ll do it myself.’

Most people categorize sin putting personal pride and stubbornness near the bottom of the list or calling it “it’s just the way I am.” Otherwise, sin is not a grave issue in a culture flaunts and peddles those sins we think are worse than our own . . . even if we are entertained by some of it through television, movies, music, or looking down our noses at others who do things and thinking, “I would never do that.”

When I flirt with sin, I feel the reaction of God in my spirit. He reminds me of the price He paid to redeem me, “not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” (1 Peter 1:18–19) While focusing on a violent physical death can be a vile thing, turning my mind to what Jesus experienced on the cross to redeem me is a strong reminder of how serious sin is to God. He said, “ . . . without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” (Hebrews 9:22).

When I read the OT passages about lambs put to death so people could experience forgiveness as they waited for the promised Messiah, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” comes to mind. I also think of the times I’ve held a little lamb in my arms and felt its tenderness and vulnerability. What could be more vile than killing a helpless and sinless Lamb, and yet God ordained it — for us.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

This great gift demonstrates God’s attitude toward sin but also His great love for sinners. I could not redeem myself from falling short of His glory, but He could do it and did do it. Christ’s sacrifice was perfect, complete, and once for all. Nothing more is needed other than my response. I am to offer Him the sacrifice of praise and offer myself to Him. “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1) His redeeming grace is free to sinners such as I, but its cost to God is without measure.

Lord, a short life of doing my own thing without You and disguising that as “fun” does not compare with all that You have done for me. Your death was utterly unselfish, utterly for every person. Your grace is offered freely. Your arms are open even to those who spit in Your face. No one and nothing else promises me eternal life but You. Nothing can compare to the deep joy of knowing You, being in Your presence, hearing Your voice. You guard my heart. You keep me aware of temptation and Your power to overcome it with its deception. When I do falter, you remind me: “If I confess my sins, You are faithful and just to forgive my sins and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9, personalized) and you keep me close to the cross by Your amazing grace.

READ: John 3, Ephesians 1-3, Hebrews 10:8-18,