1 THESSALONIANS 1:2–5 – We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
THEME OF THE DAY. THE GREATEST MOTIVATOR FOR CHRISTIAN LIVING. What motivates us to read our Bibles, pray, attend church, and serve the Lord? What is the driving force in our lives to live holy, separated from the world, and pursuing Christ-likeness? What moves us to deny the flesh, personal desires, and our own wills to serve others, share the Gospel, and be sacrificial in our churches? I think that is sufficient quizzing to get us to think about the “why” behind our walk with the Lord. Multiple answers exist. We may say, “Because God saved me for those things.” True, but that will not sustain us. How about, “God commands me” and that is also true but, once again, this will not keep us keeping on. Perhaps, it is our love for God that is our answer to motivation for Christian living? That is noble, but insufficient. Why? Our love for God ebbs and flows. We are damaged by sin and weakened by sin people with moods, emotions, and circumstances making our love for God far from what it should be and offers no continual motivation to live the Christian life. Someday that won’t be a problem but that is for heaven and another day. So, what would do it? What is the greatest motivator for Christian living? It is found in three simple words the Apostle Paul states of the Thessalonian believers in today’s scripture – “loved by God.” Here is sustained motivation. Here is power to run the race, finish the course, and keep the faith (2 Timothy 4:7). Now there are many applications to consider but for time and space restrictions, let’s just consider one. And to me, it is the most important – the immutability or unchanging character of the God who is love.
The greatest truth about God’s love that motivates us to live all of life for Him is the fact it never changes. He will never stop loving us based on our many failings, many sins, and many seasons of allowing a lukewarm heart toward Him – The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you (Jeremiah 31:3). God’s love is not like “daisy love” alternating the petals picked from “He loves me, He loves me not.” No, it is always, “He loves me.” Someone asked a great theologian the question, “Why does God love us?” Expecting a long dissertation of profound understanding, he received a simple, child-like answer which is the only answer – “Because He does.”
Think about it? Does God love us because we are lovable? No, we are not. Does God love us because we are worthy of His love? No, we are not. Does God love us because we earned His love? No, we could not. God loves us because He is love and that is what He does (1 John 4:8). Let that sink into our hearts. We are loved with an everlasting love that is not based on our performance or loss because of our lack of performance. That is motivation to live for Him – all the time.
PRAYER: “Father, I praise You for Your unfailing love and the strength it gives me to live for You in all things.”
QUOTE: “Don’t let your love for God be your motivator in life. It won’t sustain us, but let His love motivate us. It sustains.”