If the burden we feel for people is our sole motivation for preaching the gospel or serving the Lord, it is just another form of humanism.
After Jesus had risen from the dead, He found that Peter had gone back to his old occupation - fishing. After cooking breakfast for Peter, Jesus pointed to one of the fish and asked this question, "'Simon [Peter] son of John, do you truly love me more than these?' 'Yes, Lord,' he said, 'you know that I love you.' Jesus said, 'Feed my lambs'" (John 21:15). Note that Jesus didn't say, "Peter, do you love My lambs?" Then, "Feed My lambs." Rather Jesus asked, "Peter, do you love ME?" Peter's ministry to the sheep was to be motivated primarily by his love for Christ, not his love for the lambs.
When we receive His gift of life, which cost Jesus His life, how can we spend it in the pursuit of our own ambitions, lusts, and gratification? God forbid. Instead, in reverent awe and profound love, we are compelled to pour our lives back out before Him like a drink offering, holding nothing back, giving everything we are in the service of the only King who will reign forever and ever. Make no mistake - this is not a waste. It is our reasonable service. We have been saved to serve.
Leonard Ravenhill once asked the question, "Is what you're living for worth Christ dying for?" We were not saved so that we could be polished, decorative knickknacks sitting on God's shelf filling space in heaven for eternity. We have been saved for a purpose, and the fulfillment of that purpose is the only acceptable reaction we can have to the great gift of salvation we have received. You have been saved, not for salvation's sake, but you have been saved to serve.
Daniel Kolenda, Live before you die
After Jesus had risen from the dead, He found that Peter had gone back to his old occupation - fishing. After cooking breakfast for Peter, Jesus pointed to one of the fish and asked this question, "'Simon [Peter] son of John, do you truly love me more than these?' 'Yes, Lord,' he said, 'you know that I love you.' Jesus said, 'Feed my lambs'" (John 21:15). Note that Jesus didn't say, "Peter, do you love My lambs?" Then, "Feed My lambs." Rather Jesus asked, "Peter, do you love ME?" Peter's ministry to the sheep was to be motivated primarily by his love for Christ, not his love for the lambs.
When we receive His gift of life, which cost Jesus His life, how can we spend it in the pursuit of our own ambitions, lusts, and gratification? God forbid. Instead, in reverent awe and profound love, we are compelled to pour our lives back out before Him like a drink offering, holding nothing back, giving everything we are in the service of the only King who will reign forever and ever. Make no mistake - this is not a waste. It is our reasonable service. We have been saved to serve.
Leonard Ravenhill once asked the question, "Is what you're living for worth Christ dying for?" We were not saved so that we could be polished, decorative knickknacks sitting on God's shelf filling space in heaven for eternity. We have been saved for a purpose, and the fulfillment of that purpose is the only acceptable reaction we can have to the great gift of salvation we have received. You have been saved, not for salvation's sake, but you have been saved to serve.
Daniel Kolenda, Live before you die
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