Why bother? Christ, that's why.

Grace and peace to you my friends,

"He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;" Romans 2:6-7 ESV

"So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. " 2 Corinthians 5:9 ESV

Paul is all about connecting our faith in Christ with living in the real world. He, of all people, understands how difficult it is to "do right" here in this world. He was very open and honest about his motivation for living: Christ Jesus and all that Jesus promised for him. He saw that as such a valuable prize to work towards that he gladly walked into the face of death multiple times, because of CHRIST!

We believe in the same Lord that he did. If his faith in Christ could do that for him, shouldn't we be asking ourselves, "Does my faith in Christ move me to the same kind of living?"

 Are you motivated to help, assist or otherwise meet the needs of those around you? Can you stomach watching people you care about go "without"?  If you have Christ you won't be able to. When we have Christ in us, motivating us, we will always long to fill the needs we see around us. Christ enables us to see the world as He does, full of lost, blind people. All of them in need of a Savior. All of them missing out on the glory of God's presence, here now spiritually and forever physically in heaven. Knowing the glory of the prize we are working for should move us to act. However, He isn't always going to give us the means to do it the way we think it should be done. Often the only thing we will be able do to help a needy person is simply pray persistently to our Father on their behalf, for Him to act in their circumstance. It's difficult, but it is still a way for us to act out our faith, by "patience in well-doing".  Look and pray for new ways to share the treasure of Christ and the reward of heaven today. 

Do not grow weary in doing good but pray persistently for those in need as well as your own hearts ability to love them. May God richly bless you as you seek out ways to "do good". May the love of Christ help you to bring the living Christ to those in need around you as you lovingly display His grace in word and deed.

For the Joy of Your Faith,

Teagan