Marsha's Musings: Why We Do What We Do As Christians (Hebrews 13:12-16 NKJV)

Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Hebrews 13:12-16 NKJV)

This earth is not our home.  All of this will be destroyed one day.  It will not continue, but we are looking for our heavenly city that is yet to come.  Our citizenship is in heaven.

In light of Christ's sacrifice for us and what we have to look forward to we are to continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God by giving thanks to His name and we are to do good and share with others.  These are the sacrifices God is well pleased with.  We do not do these things to be saved or earn merit with God.  We do them out of a heart of thanksgiving with a conscience toward God.  This is the difference between those who are religious and those who have a relationship with Jesus Christ. 

Sometimes in our weakness, we forget this and slip into doing good for the praise of men instead of from a heart of thankfulness and a conscience toward God.  So these things are good reminders to me of why we do what we do as Christians.