Thursday, October 13, 2011

Spirit-prompted or Obligated?

"If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit" (Galatians 5:25)

Have you ever noticed how strong a force is our sense of "obligation," beloved? Just take a moment and think about how much you do each day just because you are under obligation to do so. Is obligation a bad thing? Not at all! We go to work each day because we are obligated to do so, we pay taxes because we are obligated to do so, we drive according to the laws of the road (well, most do!) once again because we are obligated to do so. So obligation is not in and of itself a bad motivation, is it?

But what role should obligation play in one's spiritual life? How much of what we do as Christians is merely out of a sense of obligation? Do you recall, for example, what the Apostle Paul wrote about our giving unto the Lord?

"Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7)

Paul made it clear that mere "compulsion" should not be a primary factor in what we give unto the Lord but rather that which we "purpose" in our hearts out of our love for and commitment to Jesus Christ. And that same apostle also made it clear what our motivation ought to be spiritually when it comes to daily living. Because we "live" by the Spirit - because of His regenerating work in our hearts - we ought also to "walk" or conduct our daily living by the Spirit. In other words, we do what we do and say what we say as a result of His inner prompting in our lives.

I recall hearing an illustration once of the difference between being Spirit-prompted in our living and merely feeling a sense of religious obligation. The speaker likened this contrast to operating an automobile. He said that living as a Christian out of a sense of obligation, no matter how well-intentioned, is like pushing a car from behind. From the front everything looks normal, but in reality the car will only continue to move forward as long as it is being pushed. The moment we stop pushing, the car stops moving. By contrast, to be Spirit-prompted in life is to start the engine, engage the transmission, press down the accelerator and steer the car as it runs under the power for which it was designed to operate. That is the Christian life, beloved! We were "designed to operate" by the power of the living God through the Holy Spirit who indwells us!

Obligation certainly has its place and every believer knows that we are certainly obligated to God for all that we are and have. But to be Spirit-prompted in our living is simply God's choice for us. Are you walking by the Spirit, beloved?

Ron