THE WILL TO LOVE - Vital Christianity

86While they claimed Jesus as Lord, they probably thought of Him as a means to an end.They made it clear that they did the prophesying, that they cast out demons, that they performedthe miraculous signs and wonders. They used His name, but as a tool to accomplish their task,instead of seeing themselves as a tool in God’s hand to accomplish His task. Even though theycalled Jesus Lord, they remain Lord as they use His name to further their purpose.It is impossible to preach the gospel of Christ in an orthodoxy manner, to do so in thename of Christ, to be right in doctrine and zealous service, yet to be doing so for the purpose ofserving one’s own self-interest, one’s own glory, one’s own self-satisfaction.Because of the evil propensity of the human heart we must continually examine ourselvesto see why we are doing what we are doing. Is it for myself, or for God? Is it to elevate my ownreputation, or o elevate the name of Christ? Is it for my own self-satisfaction, or for the glory andhonor of Jesus Christ? If we do not regularly ask such questions we flirt with the ever-presentdanger of self-deception.There is always the danger of rely upon service for Christ as our security. Often inChurches we see over-worked eager beavers who are on the brink of exhaustion at any moment.Many times such people are overcompensating. They are trying to make up in service what theylack in their personal relationship and walk with God. Their sacrifice—service—is taking theplace of obedience—to know God intimately. Such people live on the momentum of their ownactivities. When their activities are taken from them they collapse for they no longer have theenergy that was driving them. Instead of being channels for God’s love with service being theoverflow of their relationship with God, they are religious squirrels running frantically in theirreligious squirrel cages motivated by fear and guilt. When the wheel in the cage stops they findthat life is empty and that they have no resources.This principle is seen in all of life. How often we hear of workaholics who have suddenlycollapsed within two years of their retirement. Why? Because their reason for living—work—had been taken from them! Scores of people of our day find their reason for living entertainmentand pleasure. When they are suddenly cut off they don’t know what to do with themselves. Sooften they become utterly bored and helpless and some decide life isn’t worth living bycommitting suicide.SELF EXAMINATIONWhether we are religious or not, we need to constantly ask ourselves, “What am I livingfor?” “What am I living on?” “Am I energized by my own activities, no matter how good, or amI energized by God’s power?” “Am I doing what I am doing because of my lack of a meaningfulrelationship with God, or am I doing it as a loving response to God’s goodness to me?”What God wants from us above everything else is ourselves. He is not looking just forpeople who are orthodoxy and who demonstrate good works; He is looking for who respond toHis love from their hearts. He is not looking for religious people; He is looking for spiritual