“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

So many times in life and especially in the Christian’s life, we fall to the flesh and become slack on doing the things we know need to be done. Whether it’s working out to achieve a personal fitness goal, or practicing to get better in a specific area, or maybe it’s just living the right way. When we begin to grow slack, we look to certain things or people to motivate us. I just want to share with you three things that motivate me to continue living Christ-like.

The first one is myself. The reason “myself” is my motivation to continue living Christ-like is simply because I want to stay in line with God. God has promised me so many things and I want to be in right-standing that I may receive those things. Now, don’t get me wrong, God doesn’t bless me because of any good that I do, He blesses me simply because He is God. But I know I won’t be receiving anything good from God if my life is not in order.

The second thing that motivates me to continue living Christ-like is my family: my wife and son. God has blessed me with a woman so wonderful, that words would fail me in describing how wonderful she truly is. Every moment that we are blessed to spend together is a gift because it’s something God gives, and He gives us so much joy in each other. Then it’s mind-blowing to see how God can take characteristics from her and from me and bless us with such a sweet five year old child. Just to be able to see them happy and blessed is enough motivation to make me want to continue to do right. Through principal, God shows us that when a man is living right, He will bless his whole household.

The last, but most important thing that motivates me to continue living Christ-like, is Christ Himself. As I said earlier, I’ve been blessed with a wonderful wife and son, and I live a life full of love, joy, and peace. Jesus Christ gave His life to make this all possible. The text verse says to let your light shine that men may see your good works and glorify your Father; and in everything I do I want to bring my Father glory.

Nobody seems to understand how Paul and Silas had so much joy and peace while in prison in Acts 16:25. But I understand, because Jesus gives me that same joy and peace, and that’s all the motivation I need.