Hopefully you've realized by now that legalism and license are both ineffective, unbiblical motivations for the Christian life. But the question of proper motivation for Christian growth is often overlooked. Consequently, people go on motivating themselves in all kinds of ways that belittle the gospel and do nothing for the person seeking change. It's no wonder, then, that people grow sick and tired of "spinning their spiritual wheels" and going seemingly nowhere with God. They feel broken inside. They feel tired and discouraged. Moreover, they're lost, not knowing what to do or how to "fix" it. The next step is despair. But when hopelessness and despair engulf a man in his battle against sin (humanly speaking) he's only one step away from throwing in the proverbial towel.
If that's you, you need gospel motivation - and now. You see, the standard duty-driven, religious motivation that has crept into the church and taken us by storm simply will not cut it anymore. It's destructive and it is powerless to bring about any lasting and genuine heart-felt change. Instead, it tends to produce only a facade of piety, while keeping us indifferent to our inward motivations for obedience. We need gospel-motivation. When need it because the gospel causes us to both repent of our sin and believe in God. The gospel is both something we speak and something we believe. It's both the message and the medium of redemption. In it God motivates us with his unblushing promises. We need those promises because they offer us joy, hope, strength, glory and a place in the kingdom of God - something duty-driven motivation will never give you.
Trusting in your performance is tantamount to trusting in a false functional god to change you. In order to receive the redemptive benefits of change flowing from the gospel we must repent of our trust in the false god of self-change and exercise faith in the God of the Gospel. This is not something you do once. This is a life-long endeavor. The Christian life is a constant repenting from belief in false promises and an increasing belief in the true, good promises of God.
So let's do that right now. Read these words from Paul Tripp, and see in it a gospel-motivation.
"When I come to the Lord after I’ve blown it, I’ve only one argument to make. It’s not the argument of the difficulty of the environment that I am in. It’s not the argument of the difficult people that I’m near. It’s not the argument of good intentions that were thwarted in some way. I come to the Lord with only one appeal; his mercy. I’ve no other defense. I’ve no other standing. I’ve no other hope. I can’t escape the reality of my biggest problem; me! So I appeal to the one thing in my life that’s sure and will never fail. I appeal to the one thing that guaranteed not only my acceptance with God, but the hope of new beginnings and fresh starts. I appeal on the basis of the greatest gift I ever have or ever will be given. I leave the courtroom of my own defense, I come out of hiding and I admit who I am. But I’m not afraid, because I’ve been personally and eternally blessed. Because of what Jesus has done, God looks on me with mercy. It’s my only appeal, it’s the source of my hope, it’s my life. Mercy, mercy me!” - Paul Tripp "Whiter Than Snow".
O how sweet that is! While I'm at it, let me encourage you to pick up a copy of Paul's book. He describes it's purpose in the video below. May God help you to pursue growth and change through the gospel alone from this day forward.
2 comments:
"Consequently, people go on motivating themselves in all kinds of ways that belittle the gospel and do nothing for the person seeking change." I can completely relate to that quote in every imaginable way.
It is indeed a very helpful thought. I think honest requires us all to say that we can relate to that.
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