ROMANS 5:8 – but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us
THEME OF THE DAY. NO GREATER MOTIVATOR. There are four words in today’s scripture which serve as the greatest motivator to live a life well-pleasing to the Lord. Yes, that is a bold statement. Any use of the words “always”, “never”, and “greatest” can be hyped. Just think about times we have used “always” and “never” and we were proved wrong. A lot of examples might be given but here is one to avoid at all cost. When we see or hear of another believer falling into sin or struggling spiritually, and we say or think, “I would never do that.” When tempted in this area, remember these words of the Apostle Paul, “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned” (Romans 12:3) and “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted” (Galatians 6:1). However, using the word “greatest” in reference to today’s scripture containing four words of motivation to live a life well-pleasing to the Lord is appropriate and always true. And those four words are “Christ died for us.” Let’s consider two reasons why they are “the greatest motivator to live a life well-pleasing to the Lord.”
First, the words “Christ died for us” reveal the act of God displaying His unfathomable love to a people undeserving of His love. The Father didn’t send His Son to die for us because we are good. Nor did He sacrifice His son because we deserve such favor. And that is what makes the cross of Christ so astounding. Christ died for enemies, haters of God, and a people wanting nothing to do with God – For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life (Romans 5:10). Allow that to “simmer” in our hearts until it “boils” over with motivation to live all of life for the Lord. It will. It must. Any lengthy time meditating on the love of God in the Gospel always transforms a life. Yes, this is the time to use the word “always” because, well, it is “always” true.
A second reason why the phrase “Christ died for us” is the greatest motivator to live a life pleasing to the Lord is because it reveals our true and satisfying purpose in life. God made us for Himself; His pleasure, His purposes, His delight. Then, after sin entered the world and destroyed us, God re-made us for Himself, His pleasure, His purposes, and His delight through the gospel. Believer, take time and ponder, not just Christ dying for us as the display of God’s love, but also as the work of “getting us back on track” in why we exist.
Friends, if we spend time meditating on the Gospel of the Lord Jesus, such a spiritual exercise will take us into the realms of worship, gratitude, and self-denying service for Him who gave His all – Christ died for us – so we might give our all to Him.
PRAYER: “Father, I praise You for such a love that not only saves me but motivates me to live daily for Your pleasure.”
QUOTE: “Christ died for us. Let those four words be the motivation that moves us to die to ourselves to live for others”