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What motivates us to do the right things?
What motivates us to do the right things?
November 23, 2016
1 John 3:1-2
 
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.  Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
New International Version (NIV)
               What motivates us to do the right things?  Some say fear of reprisal or shame works best.  If we just frighten people enough or make them feel awful about their past mistakes, won’t that bring out the best  in them?  Call me unconvinced.
                In his Gospel and in this letter, the Apostle John wants his readers to walk with Jesus and do the right things.  What is his strategy?  Love.  “See what great love the Father has lavished on us . . . that we should be called children of God!”  God has loved us into his family.  When we look at newborn babies, we don’t know who they will be or what their appearance will be.  But we can imagine that they will be like their parents.  Just so, when Jesus returns we will be like him.  The transformation which began at the moment of salvation will finally be complete as we are completely identified with our Savior.
                For John, who knew personally that Jesus loved him, the question of life was never, “Does God really love me?”  Instead he wondered, “Do we love God enough to become like him?”  Our final salvation is secure and our ultimate sanctification and conformity to Christ is certain.  Since God loves us so much, we can begin to be like Christ today.  As Paul wrote to the Romans, “His kindness leads us to repentance” (Romans 2:5) and again, “Those God foreknew he predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters” (Romans 8:29).  Because God loves us, transformation will happen.  We will be changed.  Why not start now?
Pray with me: 
Father, we look at the love you have lavished on us and we stand amazed.  “Amazing love, how can it be that thou my God shouldst die for me?”  We don’t want to grieve you Lord.  You have been too good to us and loved us too much for us to continue to live in the lowlands of anger, lying, greed, lust, hatefulness and regret.  Thank you for the promise that “we will be changed.”  Please continue your work.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.
Scripture reading for today: 
1 John 3

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