Do you ever feel like you’re being forced to live your faith? If so, living a Christian life can become a burden.
“Why should I serve the Lord?” you ask. “Because Jesus died for your sins,” is the answer. That’s true, of course. God’s forgiveness in Christ is the foundation for everything we do as God’s people.
But the Bible writers expand on this. They tell us about the blessings we have as forgiven children of God and apply that to our lives. For example, why should you give of your wealth to the Lord? Paul answers, “You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Or, why should you get rid of anger and hostility toward others? Peter answers, “Rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good” (1 Peter 2:1-3). This kind of motivation never makes you feel guilty. It frees you from guilt so you can serve the Lord in joy, with a willing spirit.
Each chapter of Gospel Motivation focuses on a particular blessing we have because of our forgiveness in Christ. The Bible writers will encourage you to live as those who have been called out of darkness into the light of Christ.
