Feeling unmotivated in our relationships with God and people is human nature. CS Lewis presents an idea to address this problem, and it has something to do with acting.
Lewis says, “Faith is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods and circumstances. For moods will change, whatever view your reason takes.”
Faith indeed is about belief, and holding onto that belief, however it is also about doing what God expects of us because we believe.
We can reflect the glory of God to other people. For once, having been given the Spirit to understand his truth, then we are able to begin our walk with God. But that is not the end of our responsibility, for we are then required by God to use his Spirit to be a light to attract others to God: "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a basket, but on a candlestick; and it gives light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matt 5:14-16)
The purpose for which we are called by God, and given his Spirit, is to do good works in order to bring light to the world, and thus attract others to God. Once God has lit the candle of the Holy Spirit in your life, it’s up to you as to how you use it.
This is a critical cycle of events that we must walk in, once having been called by God: 1) God gives us his Spirit to do good works, 2) others see what we do, 3) they praise our God, and 4) they, in turn, come to God, 5) they are given his Spirit 6) and learn to live a life of doing good works to others 7) who then turn to God also. Through this cycle we preach, in our actions and words, the Kingdom of God, and it’s spread throughout all the world.
Our actions demonstrate our respect for the way of life we have been called unto. It’s this respect for God, shown in our works, which identifies that we are worthy of the gift of life forever more.
Notice also, it’s not God’s light, it is your light, which God expects you to let shine in your good works.
While God inspires us, it’s our choice to love him and to do his work, or not. It’s our responsibility to let our light shine. We put our personal characteristics, our light, into the work we do for God.
What an incredible relationship we have with God; for he wants and trusts us, his friends, to use his Spirit, in their own unique way, to call others to him!
In choosing to love God in action, and follow his way of life, we are truly working with God as our friend. He is not controlling us to do his will, like some automaton, for it’s God’s Spirit working with our spirit, which proves that we are children of God. (Rom 8:16)
This process demonstrates a deep and practical relationship with God in doing his work. It’s not a one-way system of gaining eternal life, simply for our own benefit.
Jesus did not “do it all for us”. He showed us how to live, so that we will then emulate how he lived- and in doing so we also develop a loving relationship with God, and with other people.
We have an integral part to play in the work of God on Earth, while we work out our own salvation. … "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which works in you, both to (do his) will and to do of [his] good pleasure (kindness)." (Philp 2:12-13)
God wants us to do his will, but to also do kindness to others, as we see fit. Peter provides a great long list of things to do to make your calling and election certain- for our election is not certain, unless we participate in doing kindness to others, and letting our light shine to the world. (2Peter 1:1-11)
Lewis says, “Faith is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods and circumstances. For moods will change, whatever view your reason takes.”
Faith indeed is about belief, and holding onto that belief, however it is also about doing what God expects of us because we believe.
We can reflect the glory of God to other people. For once, having been given the Spirit to understand his truth, then we are able to begin our walk with God. But that is not the end of our responsibility, for we are then required by God to use his Spirit to be a light to attract others to God: "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a basket, but on a candlestick; and it gives light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matt 5:14-16)
The purpose for which we are called by God, and given his Spirit, is to do good works in order to bring light to the world, and thus attract others to God. Once God has lit the candle of the Holy Spirit in your life, it’s up to you as to how you use it.
This is a critical cycle of events that we must walk in, once having been called by God: 1) God gives us his Spirit to do good works, 2) others see what we do, 3) they praise our God, and 4) they, in turn, come to God, 5) they are given his Spirit 6) and learn to live a life of doing good works to others 7) who then turn to God also. Through this cycle we preach, in our actions and words, the Kingdom of God, and it’s spread throughout all the world.
Our actions demonstrate our respect for the way of life we have been called unto. It’s this respect for God, shown in our works, which identifies that we are worthy of the gift of life forever more.
Notice also, it’s not God’s light, it is your light, which God expects you to let shine in your good works.
While God inspires us, it’s our choice to love him and to do his work, or not. It’s our responsibility to let our light shine. We put our personal characteristics, our light, into the work we do for God.
What an incredible relationship we have with God; for he wants and trusts us, his friends, to use his Spirit, in their own unique way, to call others to him!
In choosing to love God in action, and follow his way of life, we are truly working with God as our friend. He is not controlling us to do his will, like some automaton, for it’s God’s Spirit working with our spirit, which proves that we are children of God. (Rom 8:16)
This process demonstrates a deep and practical relationship with God in doing his work. It’s not a one-way system of gaining eternal life, simply for our own benefit.
Jesus did not “do it all for us”. He showed us how to live, so that we will then emulate how he lived- and in doing so we also develop a loving relationship with God, and with other people.
We have an integral part to play in the work of God on Earth, while we work out our own salvation. … "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which works in you, both to (do his) will and to do of [his] good pleasure (kindness)." (Philp 2:12-13)
God wants us to do his will, but to also do kindness to others, as we see fit. Peter provides a great long list of things to do to make your calling and election certain- for our election is not certain, unless we participate in doing kindness to others, and letting our light shine to the world. (2Peter 1:1-11)
Thanks Michael, and also thanks for recommending FWG
Cheers Martin