Motivation for Enthusiasm

Tuesday morning I posted a list of symptoms of apathy and mentioned that a post on motivation was soon to follow. Below are scriptures with limited comment that build up my zeal whenever I focus on them.

For the wages of sin is death, (Rom 6:23). There is more to this verse, but this small quote reminds me of my destiny as a sinner.

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die-- but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of 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. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Rom 5:6-11) This long quote and the "b" part of Rom 6:23 (but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord) demonstrates God's unlimited and incomprehensible love.

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor 6:9-11). After reading the list of these sins, notice verse 11 -- such WERE some of you. That is who you and I were, but because of the love of God in Christ, I am no longer such.

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; (2 Cor 5:14) Just grasping the basics of the love that Christ has for us and what he did for us because of that love drives me to attempt to return that love.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor 5:21). This verse is the GOOD NEWS in a sound bite. God did for us in Christ, what we could not do for ourselves -- provide for our salvation.

But thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1Co 15:57). A theme for those who are redeemed -- shout it from the mountain tops -- THANKS BE TO GOD FOR THE VICTORY HE GAVE US IN CHRIST!!!!!!

In Christ,
Scott