Dear brothers & sisters in Christ, I strongly recommend you read this new book by Dr. Bruce Wilkinson. It shows how what you do in this life effects your eternity. After I was done reading it, I rededicated my life to the LORD for the FINAL time. Praise the LORD for his faithfullness!
I have always wanted to read this..I think I will make a point of it now because my own life is being led in this same thinking (from the excerpt I read)....how is it going with you since you have read it?
I have been reading this book. I understand what the author is saying but I think we ought to be doing without always thinking of the reward. I know Jesus did say there was a reward for these things we 'do' (thru Him) but I am not sure that He 'reduces' it anyway like I think we do as human beings. I would rather and pray that I would be living as I should for the mere fact that God calls me to and leave the rest up to Him....In Matthew he talks about praying, fasting and giving alms and in each teaching He makes reference to prayer as 'go into your closet', 'wash your face (so no one knows you are fasting), giving of alms (don't let your right hand know what your left hand is doing)...I think we should pray that what we do, we do it out of pure love.......Again, I am not sure (for myself) that doing to get is the best thing to do.....anybody else? maybe I am way off base on this....?
I think that it is God in us who puts these works on our heart to do them and God is just revealing the blessings of obedience will result. Sure the unbeliever or weak christian may have selfish motives at the beginning but as they begin to see and experience the blessings and immediate rewards or the more subtle rewards such as more peace or faith, they will be seeing God's word comfirmed in their minds and will grow in faith eventually becoming more like Him.
