Why?

When I was very young I remember pestering my mother by incessantly asking, “Why?”  I figured out really early that question has kind of a perpetual motion effect; there is no end to the cycle – murder maybe.  Lately, and as recent as this morning, I have turned that unending question on myself.  Why do I do what I do?  I was challenged in that regard this morning by 2 Timothy 2:10.

Paul says here that he is enduring suffering so that the chosen can obtain salvation and eternal glory.  Not for Paul’s glory, but that those whom he is serving would gain glory.  That brought to mind a few of other places that Paul said some hard things.

• Philippians 2 – we are to empty ourselves.
• 1 Corinthians 9:16 – 23 – make myself a slave to all men doing all that I do for the sake of the gospel.
• 2 Corinthians 5:14 – 21 – be controlled by the love of Christ and beg people to be reconciled to God.
• Philippians 3 – take no credit for anything I have done or accomplish but know that I need to continually press on to know Christ.

And lest I think that this applies to other who are more lofty in their walk with God than I, Paul kills that notion in 1 Corinthians 4:16 and 11:1.

So my application this morning was to begin to pray over these and to continually ask myself, “Why?”