“Behold the Lamb of God.” Follow him, pursue him, love him not simply because he’s done something for you, but because of who he is, God. Proclaim to other’s who he is, tell your friends of the hope you have in him.

But not out of obligation.

To proclaim and follow out of obligation is the same as calling one’s love for Oreos and one’s love for God as the same thing, feeble and weak. It would be like telling your mom you love her because you have to, because you don’t have a choice in the matter. Flattering, right?

Then how ought we proclaim and follow?

Gratitude.

Sheer thankfulness of being able to follow and able to proclaim to others your hope, thankfulness of who God is and what he has done. This would be like seeing you love for God as superseding any and all other things (including Oreos). It would be like telling your mom you love her because you are overflowing with thankfulness of who she is.

The difference between obligation and gratitude is vast. And it’s something we must consider, are we living out of obligation because we have to do this and not do that to be accepted; or are we living out of gratitude for who Jesus is, Savior and Redeemer, because we’ve alread been accepted?

One is legalism the other is life.

Inside of legalism the hope is in the flesh, in what one sees and does.

Inside of life hope is in Jesus, because one knows one can’t do anything apart from His movement, aid, and calling.

So, how about it? Do you live out of obligation or gratitude?