Motivated by Grace

Matthew 21:28 - 32

In our Christian lives there are many things that we do - worship, engage in private devotions, serve, share our faith, read the bible, act in particular ways. Why do you do what you do? For some it may be obligation, duty, routine, guilt. But none of these are an authentic life lived in grace.

As we've explored over the past weeks, we are made right with God not on the basis of anything we do or don't do, but purely and solely because of the work of God. Therefore our worship, witness and service is to be motivated by a response of gratitude and reverence for a God who draws us near.

This motivation should actually move us to action. In James 1:22 he writes, "do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." Similarly, in the book Discipleship, David Watson writes "Christians in the west have largely neglected what it means to be a disciple of Christ. The vast majority of Western Christians are church members, pew fillers, hymn singers, sermon tasters, Bible readers, even born again believers or spirit filled charismatics - but not true disciples of Jesus". (pg 16)

How are you motivated by grace to act in this world. In what ways does your service for God and others reflect the grace you have received? More importantly, is the life you are living one that is a reflection of the grace you have been received? Does God's grace in your life cause you to act for justice for others and to pursue fairness and equity? Is your life one that reflects the values of Jesus? Do you seek the best for others?