Forward gaze of faith

Monday, July 16, 2007

I have been reading an excellent book by John Piper, Future Grace which touches on a topic I think may believers struggle with on a daily basis -- motivation for sanctification.

Gratitude is not set forth in the Bible as a primary motive for Christian living. Gratitude is a beautiful thing. There is no Christianity without it. It is at the heart of worship. It should fill the heart of every believer. But when it comes to spelling out the spiritual dynamics of how practical Christian obedience happens, the Bible does not say that it comes from the backward gaze of gratitude, but that it comes from the forward gaze of faith. [p43]