What is our motivation?

[johnthebaptist]

49 minutes ago, David1701 said:

We have a love driven life, not a purpose driven life; however, having said that, the answer is: yes, it serves several, very important purposes; it keeps the heart right (e.g. free from ungodly fear, bitterness, resentment, legalism, etc.) and in fellowship with the Lord.  You might not have the opportunity to do anything to help someone in need; but, if your heart is right, then, if the opportunity arises, you will do what you can.

We have a love-driven life, not a purpose-driven life? Can you explain that?

[Arrabon]

27 minutes ago, johnthebaptist said:

We have a love-driven life, not a purpose-driven life? Can you explain that?

@johnthebaptist

I can't speak for @David1701, but I wanted to to give an answer to contemplate.

To me sometimes I think that there are too many times Christians make their faith either/or, instead of inclusive.

For me, my faith is a purpose driven life that comes from God's Spirit, and is driven by love, not by legalism or rule keeping.

There is always a blending of the two, sometimes at different levels or in different portions, depending on the situations.

My 2 cents.

[David1701]

1 hour ago, johnthebaptist said:

We have a love-driven life, not a purpose-driven life? Can you explain that?

I mean that the main priority is love, not purpose.  We certainly have purposes, and they are important, but they must not become our main priority.  In other words, our focus is one being, rather than doing, although doing will flow naturally from that.

[johnthebaptist]

1 hour ago, Arrabon said:

@johnthebaptist

I can't speak for @David1701, but I wanted to to give an answer to contemplate.

To me sometimes I think that there are too many times Christians make their faith either/or, instead of inclusive.

For me, my faith is a purpose driven life that comes from God's Spirit, and is driven by love, not by legalism or rule keeping.

There is always a blending of the two, sometimes at different levels or in different portions, depending on the situations.

My 2 cents.

I would like to point out one thing, which is that when we sin, we get ourselves into trouble. For example, if you rob a bank, you'll probably spend many years in prison. Usually the trouble is more subtle, but sin always brings trouble into our lives. Therefore, the Lord gave us commandments to follow - to keep us out of trouble. I think some people confuse this with "legalism." I am not a legalist, but I do make an effort not to sin.

[johnthebaptist]

31 minutes ago, David1701 said:

I mean that the main priority is love, not purpose.  We certainly have purposes, and they are important, but they must not become our main priority.  In other words, our focus is one being, rather than doing, although doing will flow naturally from that.

But we humans need help defining "love." God does that in the Bible, giving us commandments to follow, but some of us prefer redefining love to make it easier. That, of course, is a mistake.

[Whyme]

Im not a legalist either but i do try my best, at least lately, to follow the Lords teaching. It seems like a huge impossible task, but i take it a day at a time and pray about things i need help with. One scripture that has greatly helped me lately is Paul's words that tell us to meditate on what is true, lovely, pure, noble and praisworthy. When a bad thought comes to mind i put it in check by reminding myself of those words. Maybe its God who reminds me, maybe he gets the credit. Either way im happy because ive struggled so long. Amen praise the Lord.

[Arrabon]

When I used the words "legalism" and "rule keeping", which to me is where I started in my faith as I had no teaching on "love Gods way," and I think nearly most of us started, as we all were "newbies" in the faith.

We did what we did because God said to, just like being a little kid at home, we did what we did because mom or dad said to, because we were learning how to fit in and be loved.

But as time passed and we moved into adulthood and even moved into our later years of adulthood, we saw others acting "lovingly", so some of us noticed and copycatted their actions, at least for me.

Then much later in life, there started becoming something missing in my life and in my walk, and I heard people talking about how much they loved God and truly exhibited that love in their daily walk.

Their love was something truly unique, and vastly different from a carnal, I'll call it, kind of love. Mine was "carnal" and self centered.

It wasn't until that emptiness really started bothering me, that I started praying and opening my heart to God, about not knowing how to love Him and others with "His" kind of love. At one point in my prayer I remember breaking down and sobbing, being convicted of that missing quality in my life, and feeling overwhelmingly that hollowness that was honestly breaking my heart, I think by God's design.

This was where that "rule keeping and "legalism" met the fork in the road of my life, and God started to become active through the Holy Spirit, to through his word and from His personal involvement in my life , began changing my life and through His miraculous intervention and that quiet voice of His, that has "super-natural" power.

Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." He certainly did that with me.

"Super-natural"; I wish we talked a lot more about God being "super-natural, and by that quality He separates Himself from us because we are not, but somehow we don't think of that, and on our own we try to achieve those qualities that are impossible to achieve without complete surrender to Him, so that he can cause those "super-natural qualities" to become an active part of our life.

Lastly, all through scriptures, we are told we are to be like Christ to get to heaven. Jesus and God, both, are "super-natural", and everything they are is "super-natural". So, how do we become like Christ??

For me, I quit trying on my own to be like Christ knowing it was simply impossible, but I could rely on God's "super-natural powers" to change me to be like Him, and be sincere, and not "legalistic" or a "rule keeper."

My name is Arrabon

Edited April 8, 2021 by Arrabon

[Whyme]

3 minutes ago, Arrabon said:

When I used the words "legalism" and "rule keeping", which to me is where I started in my faith as I had no teaching on "love Gods way," and I think nearly most of us started, as we all were "newbies" in the faith.

We did what we did because God said to, just like being a little kid at home, we did what we did because mom or dad said to, because we were learning how to fit in and be loved.

But as time passed and we moved into adulthood and even moved into our later years of adulthood, we saw others acting "lovingly", so some of of noticed and copycatted their actions, at least for me.

Then much later in life, there started becoming something missing in my life and in my walk, and I heard people talking about how much they loved God and truly exhibited that love in their daily walk.

Their love was something truly unique, and vastly different from a carnal, I'll call it, kind of love. Mine was "carnal" and self centered.

It wasn't until that emptiness really started bothering me, that I started praying and opening my heart to God, about not knowing how to love Him and others with "His" kind of love. At one point in my prayer I remember breaking down and sobbing, being convicted of that missing quality in my life, and feeling overwhelmingly that hollowness that was honestly breaking my heart, I think by God's design.

This was where that "rule keeping and "legalism" met the fork in the road of my life, and God started to become active through the Holy Spirit, to through his word and from His personal involvement in my life , began changing my life and through His miraculous intervention and that quiet voice of His, that has "super-natural" power.

Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." He certainly did that with me.

"Super-natural"; I wish we talked a lot more about God being "super-natural, and by that quality He separates Himself from us because we are not, but somehow we don't think of that, and on our own we try to achieve those qualities that are impossible to achieve without complete surrender to Him, so that he can cause those "super-natural qualities" to become an active part of our life.

Lastly, all through scriptures, we are told we are to be like Christ to get to heaven. Jesus and God, both, are "super-natural", and everything they are is "super-natural". So, how do we become like Christ??

For me, I quit trying on my own to be like Christ knowing it was simply impossible, but I could rely on God's "super-natural powers" to change me to be like Him, and be sincere, and not "legalistic" or a "rule keeper."

My name is Arrabon

Rules guide us, but only God can help us keep them. We are chastened out of Gods love for us like children. IM not sure what the scriptures mean by chastening but for me its a lack of peace. Is that his chastening? Im not sure. One day at a time lol. 

[Whyme]

Let me expound and clarify. I do have peace, i mean im not without hope. I put faith in God that he will get me through this. But i have a a measure of unrest knowing that i dont measure up to what im supposed to be in Christ. 

[David1701]

2 hours ago, johnthebaptist said:

But we humans need help defining "love." God does that in the Bible, giving us commandments to follow, but some of us prefer redefining love to make it easier. That, of course, is a mistake.

Commandments only define commandments; they do not define love.  Love is a state of being, involving patience, kindness, goodness, meekness, self-control, etc..  This state of being results in actions that accord with that state.

Two people can do the same thing outwardly (e.g. helping an old lady across the road); one of them is doing it from a heart of love, the other from a heart of pride, to feel that he's done something good.  No-one, looking on, could tell the difference, but God can, and does.