Purpose and motive are all important in the Christian life. It's often not what we do that really matters the most, but why we do what we do. We are to do right simply because it is right. Not for recognition, reward, fame or fortune, nor for personal or material gain. When we all get to heaven we will ultimately and intricately come to know the answers to all life's problems and perplexities and then, with the mind of Christ, come to fully understand the real purpose of it all. Until then, we must by obedient faith accept God's assertion that we are part of His eternal purpose to redeem unto Himself eternal sons and daughters.
In the meantime, we should love Him, because He first loved us. We should serve Him, because He first served us. It is reasonable we should present our bodies as a living sacrifice in His service, because in His mercy He first gave Himself for us. We should lose our life in His service because He gave His life for us. We should crown Him King of our lives, because He has made us priests and princes. We should glorify Him in our body because He some day will give us a glorified body. We should give Him glory in our church because He has given us His glorious church.
I still clearly remember a beautiful Spring day many years ago. We were planting a new church in a new suburb and I had been out all day knocking on door after door. It was one of those days that, in spite of prayer without ceasing, sometimes makes you wonder if you are really in the right place doing the right thing. Hour after exhausting hour had passed and nothing really worthy of spiritual note had occurred. As I walked up the footpath to our home late that afternoon, if I had felt any lower I would have needed an elevator to get out the basement of discouragement and despair.
Just as I approached the front steps, my little daughter, who had been watching for me for an hour through the window, threw open the front door, ran down the steps, and, throwing her arms wide, jumped into my arms. As she did, her little hand, clutching a small crushed bunch of wild flowers, came from behind her back and she cried, " Daddy, I love you!"
After recovering, I placed her on my shoulders and galloped her around the lawn; playing her favourite game. Later, I asked her why she had given me the flowers. I thought she may have expected me to bring her some candy or a toy. Or perhaps there was some special gift she wanted. She just looked at me with her big eyes and a big childish grin; threw her arms around me again and said, "I love you. You're the best Daddy in the whole wide world!"
Our love for our Father should flow from the same fountain of childlike faith, love and gratitude. We should love, honour, worship and serve Him simply because He is!
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