What motivates you as a Christian?

What motivates you as a Christian? There needs to be something or we will most certainly quit. The Apostle Paul had two things.

1) Hell itself. - (2Cor. 5:11) “ Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men…” 2) The love that Christ. (2Cor. 5:14) “For the love of Christ constraineth us…” Motivation is the key to Christian success. My two motivations are: 1) The cross. The Lord died for my sin there, in my place, and I owe him my life. 2) The call of God. Not just as a Pastor but as a Christian. We have a call to go, and make disciples. You and I need a cause higher than ourselves to stay motivated. So how can you and I stay motivated? 1) Be appreciative. Only unappreciative and self-centered people take without being thankful. Repent and be truly thankful for all that God has done for you. Don’t let yourself forget. 2)Be approvable. Prove yourself faithful. Live approved by practicing the basics again: Church attendance, Bible reading, Prayer, Witnessing, and living godly. Faithfulness is proved by living God’s standard’s. 3) Be accountable to someone. Change takes obedience and discipline, but sometimes we need the help of another. Find someone else who is faithful and trustworthy, and ask them to hold you accountable. Motivation is the key to success in the Christian life, but it can't start until you learn to have a heart of appreciation.

Forgiveness

As we grow in the Lord, God places us in certain situations, that allows us to make certain choices that reveal to us our true character. One of those situations is in the area of forgiveness. When we get saved we are forgiven for every transgression, but even though God has forgiven us, wrongs that we have committed against others may not be. In the book of Philemon, Onesimus was a run-away slave that later was led to Christ by the Apostle Paul. Although he was now saved he still needed to right his wrongs with his owner, Philemon. Paul sent Onesimus back to Philemon to correct his wrong. Onesimus sought forgiveness, but Philemon was asked to grant it. After we’re saved, we may be asked by God to right past wrongs. It may be that God would have us humbly seek forgiveness, or possibly humbly grant it to another. In both cases it takes a strong character to admit wrong or forgive the wrong of another. To often we sweep under the rug the very things that God wants us to deal with. (Eph 4:32) “ And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” So learn the character trait of forgiveness, and experience the joy that will come from it.