Christian's "Have to" is different

A religious man may say, "I must" or "have to" do such and such religious things. But what is the motivation behind that "have to"? For example, a Jehovah's witness may say, "I must witness to people". A Muslim may say, "I have to pray five times a day". A Buddhist may say "I have to do give alms to the poor". Or even a professing Christian may say, "I must go to Church on Sunday" Unanimously, these kind of "have to"s are most likely to be based on one thing: fear. They "must" do these religious duties. Why? Because they need to be saved. The Jehovah's witness believes if he witnesses to people everyday diligently he will be counted as one of those who shall enter into heaven. Same it is with the Muslim. The Buddhist must do alms so that in the hopes that he will have a good life when he is reborn. The professing Christian may say he must go to Church, because he believes that God will be please if he attends Church every Sunday, and somehow God will forgive him for the sins he has committed throughout the week.

Yet why does True Christian say "I have to". Why does he say that he "must" do good, he "has to" avoid sin, "needs" to love God will all his heart and all his soul?

It is not because of fear. It is because of God's love. The reason for the "have to" is this: Jesus Christ, the Maker of the universe, has come and died for the Christian's sin. THEREFORE, the Christian "MUST" do good. But this MUST is WORLD'S different from the religious' man's must. The latter is based on selfish reasons (hoping to go to heaven, hoping to be reborn, etc). But the true Christian's "have to" is GOD-centred, not self-centred. Christians must do right because Jesus Christ has already done so much for them. Christ has shed His blood and was crushed under the wrath of God, and rejected and ashamed by men in order to purchase forgiveness, to make forgiveness possible for us criminals doomed for the eternal death sentence.

So we Christian's also has an OBLIGATION, but this obligation or responsibility is not because we want to have something. NO! Not even rewards! We "HAVE TO" do good, and so push ourselves and force ourselves because of this one reason: gratitude! We are so thankful, that we just MUST do it. But this still requires a push, a struggle, constant remembrance of what He has done, and forceful efforts to please the one who has done good to us. It is good to say I MUST - but only if you are a True Christian. It is good to urge ourselves and beat our body into submission, ONLY and ONLY IF it is because we are so thankful for what Christ has done. Joseph said to his master's wife who tried to seduced to commit adultery: how CAN I do this wickedness against God, who has done such good to me? We must likewise exert ourselves.

We are to give voluntary offering to God. If we give a voluntary offering because it is simply commanded, then it is no longer voluntary but subscribed. We must offer ourselves a WILLING sacrifice. We must actively please God, making all the effort. Christ was so pleased at Mary who, out of her own will, broke the expensive jar of ointment and anointed with the feet of Christ. Christ did not necessarily command her to do that, yet Mary was merely following that old commandment of loving God with all of our heart, soul, and strength. Loving someone out of "have to", is not really love. But when we love because of a DIFFERENT "have to", then God shall be pleased.

Praise be to God through Jesus Christ, the Love of our souls.