Why?

[aiki]

why do i want to do it? because seeing myself become more and more like him brings me pleasure. knowing him brings me pleasure. pleasing him brings me pleasure.

I didn't think there'd be anyone who'd say this! Have you been reading John Piper?

Not seeking personal fulfillment, but spiritual fulfillment. I tried finding "personal fulfillment" and it wasn't fulfilling. Now I am truely satisfied from within, and my desires for the eternal things that will not fade are what I seek. Like Dave in the above post put it...I am compelled to serve God. It's nothing that is of my own, but what God has put in me, and that is because I am sealed and filled with the Holy Spirit of God, and that is what compells me.

I'm a little confused about some of what you've said here. You make a distinction between spiritual fulfillment and personal fulfillment but say that you're "truly satisfied from within." This sounds like a personal thing to me. I mean you are the one who is satisfied, right? It may be by spiritual means that you arrive at this fulfillment, but this doesn't mean that you aren't still personally fulfilled.

I wonder too about the idea that you are compelled, like a computer by its programming, to live as a child of God. Is this the kind of compulsion you're talking about? Are you some kind of spiritual puppet? This prompts me to ask what you'd do if you weren't compelled... Are you living for God under duress?

But what really motivates me, what really makes Christianity valuable, is that when I worship God I see how great He is..and I just want to be nearer to Him. This is kinda difficult to describe... I've experienced some of His love and I feel convinced that there's nothing better in the world. Jesus Himself makes Christianity valuable. It's not what I get out of it or even the effects it has on me that is my motivation...I just want to be closer to this Person who is so lovely beyond words.

Ummm...aren't you contradicting yourself here? YOu say you're motivation for following Christ has nothing to do with getting something out of doing so, but then you say that it is the love you feel and being in the company of one who is "lovely beyond words" that provokes you to walk with him. Is the love you feel for Christ a pleasant, satisfying thing? It sounds like it is. You write that there is "nothing better," which is the sort of thing one says when describing something particularly gratifying, like excellent music, or a really good bit of chocolate.

What did God have in store for me?

How does he plan to use me?

I need to stay ready for his use.

Why do you want to be ready for His use?

Why wouldn't that be all? I repeat, it is the best way to live. He was the greatest teacher, and I will continue to follow.

Its just that no where in the Bible (at least as far as I know) is this suggested as a reason for following Christ.

What do you mean by the "best way to live"? Are you referring to the level of satisfaction, joy, peace, etc. you experience living as a Christian?

Thank you all for your posts! Very interesting to see how each of you is thinking about this matter.

Peace to you.

 

[Bain_Adaneth]

Ever since the day God delivered me from demonic suppression, I promised to believe in Him and follow Him all my days. At the moment I believed on Him, my eyes were open, and just KNEW that God existed and that He was real. It was not something I learned, but was a supernatural occurrence. I’ve been a so-called “Christian” all my life, but did not know God till then. It was as if a veil had been covering my eyes my whole life, and had just been removed. I could see! After that, I could NOT stay away from the bible. It was definitely spiritual, because before that I could never read the bible without falling asleep. Before I was saved, the Bible was so boring, and worshiping God, and listening to pure sermons were a bore. For the first time I knew how it felt to thirst for the Word of God. For the first time in my life, I knew how it felt to thirst for righteousness. And everytime there is evil, I know that His righteousness will prevail. And I rejoice so happy when it does. I never knew that I was so close to losing God forever, what if I never knew Him and died without knowing Him? I cried over the fact that I was so close to Hell, and not being with God forever. And then I saw those around me, and thought about how lost I was, and how lost they still are. And first I was selfish, unwilling to tell them about God, because I might lose friends, and people might dislike me. But because I know what awaits for them, and I know how I would be so sad without God, I love people too much not to tell them the truth. If I was them, I would want people to tell me the Truth also, and if there was a God, I would like to know and to be with Him. This love and the Truth of the Gospel is what drives me daily to share the Word of God. And without hearing the Word, they will not be saved. I know how sad and wretched I was when I came to God, even when I did not deserve Him, His arms were wide open and waiting for a sinner like me. If I was "God" I would not even save myself, because I did not deserve His love after years of sinning, disobedience, and evil. I could not understand his unconditional love, it was something uncomprehensible to me at the time. I want everyone to experience and know their creator. He is so full of love, and justice, and righteousness.
Prayer is what I tell God out of my heart. I know it when He fulfills them, because when I pray, I hear my own prayers. And when He fulfills them, I know that He has heard. Prayer is my praise to God. Prayer is also my asking for my needs, and also on other’s behalf. Prayer is when I cry out in agony to Him, or humbled on my knees in tears, or when I thank Him or praise Him out of my heart.
I never knew that the Word of God was such a powerful thing. Until I was saved, I never took Ephesians 6 seriously. But after my demonic suppression, I’ve come to know that the Word of God sustains my life, and is my weapon in the spiritual realm and in life. I’ve come to know that the Word of God is POWER and that it was the only thing Jesus used when He was tempted by Satan.
I need to think of God everyday of my life. I CANNOT not think of Him. It is literally impossible. He is the purpose I live, and I shall aim to fulfill His will in my life. He is the most awesome Father, and it is my will to serve Him and glorify Him all of my days, because He is worthy. I am so happy ever since I believed, and the Holy Spirit is so awesome! Praise God!



quote=aiki;41239876]Why do you do what you do as a Christian? What fundamentally motivates your behaviour as a Christian? Please be honest (if you can) and personal. Don't tell me what some commentary says should be your motive for living the Christian life, or what some particular popular Christian author suggests it should be. Tell me why you read and study the Bible, pray, attend church, minister to others, etc. I expect some of you may want to give answers like: "The Bible is my spiritual food, so I feast upon it daily." Or, "Prayer is my means of communication with God, so I pray." But these answers don't really address the question I'm asking, which is: Why does it matter to you that the Bible is your spiritual food? Why do you care if you communicate with God or not? What is your base motive for entering into the Christian life at all? What is motivating you to continue as a Christian?

Thanks in advance for your answers!

Peace to you.

P.S. - I'm not looking to make a point here; I'm just curious.[/quote]

 

[oneofchrists]

Don't You feel That if their was no personal fulfillment that You would be less inclined to serve Our Risen Savior? I have thought about what You have posted "Aiki" and I feel that if You don't feel His presence and that if if You don't feel motivated to be in His Service then You really cannot feel His Love and His Warmth and His caring for us .

His Love for us is very real and this reality just bubbles over one who is in council with the Holy Spirit. WE cannot help but want to be Loved and that Love cannot be contained within ones self . That Love is meant to spring forth from us , like streams of living water, that proceed from a central source and that is His precious Holy Spirit.

When You became a Christian did You not also feel the Joy within? Did You not also feel overwhelmingly excited and want to share Your experience with someone right away? when these sorts of things happen through the life changing Love of Christ, one cannot help but receive a personal blessing from the Lord as this is intended , just so he can let one know of His Glorious presence working within ones own heart.

I don't think it a selfish motive to have Joy when the Holy spirit works and is working within an individual . I feel that is the bonus or the Blessing One would receive from communing with Jesus while He is at work bringing in His Harvest...God Bless You Brothers and Sisters in the Lord and may others be Blessed also by Your working for Him in His service ....Dave

 

[manicfaith]

I love him, because(I'm going to try not to be poetically vague about this):

He showed me how utterly lost and hopeless I was and he opened my eyes!!! And gave me an incomprehensible, unmerited gift: grace.
That grace allowed me to experience his presence, and then it happened. I fell in love with Him. Literally. Only so much more strongly than the feeling could be for another human.
All I wanted was to praise him, to sing to him, to find out more about him...I WANTED HIM!! At first the whole deal was about me and him. Quite simply, he was my fountain of joy, so I loved him, searched for him. Kind of selfish. But the more I study his word, the more I see that the whole deal is about all of us.
Following what he wants me to do, and his teachings I guess can sometimes be a way of trying to feel worthy of his love, sometimes a way to try and make him proud of me, sometimes a way of hoping to grow in faith and spirit.... but ultimately, what I *see* that his will is good, period. For me, for others, for Him.


I don't know if this is the kind of answer you were looking for.

 

[daniel777]

I didn't think there'd be anyone who'd say this! Have you been reading John Piper?

haha, i said this more than two years ago. . . . . and no, i haven't ever read any piper books. :O.... at least i don't think i have. :/

 

[gfletcherd]

Why do you do what you do as a Christian? What fundamentally motivates your behaviour as a Christian? Please be honest (if you can) and personal. Don't tell me what some commentary says should be your motive for living the Christian life, or what some particular popular Christian author suggests it should be. Tell me why you read and study the Bible, pray, attend church, minister to others, etc. I expect some of you may want to give answers like: "The Bible is my spiritual food, so I feast upon it daily." Or, "Prayer is my means of communication with God, so I pray." But these answers don't really address the question I'm asking, which is: Why does it matter to you that the Bible is your spiritual food? Why do you care if you communicate with God or not? What is your base motive for entering into the Christian life at all? What is motivating you to continue as a Christian?

Thanks in advance for your answers!




Peace to you.

P.S. - I'm not looking to make a point here; I'm just curious.

Hi

I serve God simple because he sent his only Son to come down and die on the cross for my sins. He didn't have to do it but he did. I do it because on judgment day when He comes back, I want to hear Him say thy good and faithful servant. I want to spend eternity in Heaven and not burning in hell. Amen

 

[98cwitr]

The Golden Rule

 

[Daxen]

im pretty sure that how i feel and my main reasons for believing is all due to the Holy Spirit indwelling me
without the Holy Spirit, i wouldnt be anything more then someone that doesnt believe in anything

i might sound corney, but every ounce of belief in me is there because God put it there

 

[JustAsIam77]

Hi

I serve God simple because he sent his only Son to come down and die on the cross for my sins. He didn't have to do it but he did. I do it because on judgment day when He comes back, I want to hear Him say thy good and faithful servant. I want to spend eternity in Heaven and not burning in hell. Amen

Well said.

 

[DesertJoe]

Aiki,there was a man who was born 2000 years ago, and He came for a reason.On a very personal level he saw that I was unable to make myself good,He saw that I was unable to pay my debt (to Him,btw) He saw that I was morally bankrupt & spiritually dead.He took the debt I owed (to Him),& since it was a legal debt & had to be payed, He payed it for me.He died,because that was what my debt required.& had I been the only one who needed this,He would have done it just for me.I really still do not do what is good;that is,if it appears by my actions that I look a little like this Man I speak of,it is because He is doing it through me.I want to get to know this Man who died for me,& every once in a while I think I hear coming down through the centuries His voice echoing on the wind this word,"Tetelesti".Paid in full.It is really odd you know.The more I get to know this man,the more He seems to take charge.In a loving way He does that.& by Him taking charge,I have been set free.I will not brag about what I do,But I will brag.....about Him.

 

[bubbles881]

hello

I do it to show my thanks! I cannot imagine going trhough what Jesus went through . . . the way he died for us. To live the Christian life is the LEAST we could do!