God wants us to spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24). How do we do that? How do we entice and motivate each other toward love and good deeds? I have been learning four different ways we can do that. In this post I will cover the first two.
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Live it. Live a life of love yourself. Let your life be an example of what it means to love one another. What Paul said of himself in Galatians 2:20 (NIV) we should be able to say of ourselves, that I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Jesus said in Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV),
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
As Christians, God’s light—His glory, character, and love—shines out from us. There are two passages that specifically describe Christ’s life. The first is Matthew 11:29 (NIV), Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. I am gentle and humble in heart, He says. The light that shines through the Christian’s life is going to be from a gentle and humble spirit. It is not a harsh light that calls attention to itself, but a warm, gentle, and inviting light that leads people to see the rest that is found in Christ.
The second passage is John 1:14 (NIV), The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. Jesus was full of grace and full of truth. The light that God shine’s through us will have those same qualities because that is the proof of the Father’s glory. Notice the order of the words, grace then truth; truth surrounded by grace. Our light will have that order. It is a light with the attracting quality of grace that then leads people to come close and see the truth of the Gospel.
Humility and gentleness, grace and truth. When those characteristics that are so much the heart of Christ are in our hearts they will shine out in a life of personal repentance for our own sins and gentleness in dealing with the sins and brokenness of others. It will show in responding to others in grace while we conduct ourselves in the truth. Jesus says when you let your light shine before others, [they will] see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Living it. That’s the first way to spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
- Give it. Don’t just live it out in front of one another, give your love to one another. Show your love by doing good deeds for one another. Do things that show that you are devoted to one another, do things that show that you want to live in harmony with one another; do things that show that you honor one another, that you accept one another, that you serve one another, and that out of reverence to Christ you submit to one another.
More tomorrow…
Learning To Be Full Of Grace And Truth. 