Last week I was asked by a friend: “How are you motivated to do the things that you do?” I thought that was a great question and a wonderful opportunity to share the gospel. But it also got me thinking.
Motivation is such a common question today. In a culture of non-stop, busy, noisy, to-do lists, and constant work we are always asking each other: “How do you stay motivated?” Secularly it may be a new diet or a new workout plan and you want to find the key to “stay motivated”. Spiritually you may have started a new Bible reading plan, or trying to spend more time in prayer and you want to find the spiritual key to “stay motivated”. Well let me begin with this: in the Christian life there is no distinction between secular or spiritual (sacred). Everything is sacred and everything is to bring glory to our Lord Jesus Christ. The good news is there is a singular motivation that has every bit of drive and passion that you will ever need for every area of life:
Motivation in Paul’s Life
As usual let’s begin with the Word of God:
For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died. And He died for all, so that they who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 LSB
“To put it simply, the love of Christ” I told my friend. To which he responded: “I knew you were going to say something with Christ” Well I’m glad he knew that because it’s true. Paul puts it this way: “the love of Christ controls us.” That is, everything Paul did, everywhere Paul went, and everything Paul said was controlled by one factor: the love of Christ.
The Love of Christ – Our Motivation
Think about it. “He died for all, so that they who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him…” What more motivation do you need than the savior of the world dying a brutal death and bearing the wrath of God on your behalf so that you might have the free gift of eternal life through Him? If a child looks at the sacrifices of their father they will find motivation to clean their room out of respect and love for him. How much more ought we, as children of God (1 John 3:1), when looking upon our Father who sacrificed His only begotten Son (John 3:16), find the motivation to do anything and everything He asks of us?
Don’t skip the last part of the above verse. “No longer live for themselves…” This is not some hack to find motivation to do what you want to do. The only way this motivation works is if you follow in Christ’s footsteps and “take up [your] cross daily” (Luke 9:23) and not live for yourself but for Him. That is, obey His commands, follow His teachings, ask for His will, seek His presence, etc.
Conclusion
One glimpse at the cross. That is all you need to find the motivation to live for Him. What a sacrifice He made for us! What a perfect love! Oh how deep is the marvelous grace of Jesus! In Him is everything I need to get up in the morning, to put away my vain screens and useless entertainment, to pick up my Bible, to fall to my knees, to obey His commands. His love controls me! Oh Christian, if you have found yourself lacking in motivation it is obvious you have taken your eyes off of the Cross. Return to your first love and find in Him all you need to continue.
Hebrews 12:3
“For consider Him that endured such contradiction from sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”
Action
- Praise God for sending His only Son that we may have life abundant
- Confess to God your tendency to take your eyes off the Cross and live for yourself
- Ask God to help fix your eyes on Jesus
- Listen to this post’s song: The Jesus Way (particularly the lyric: “He wore my sin, I’ll gladly wear His name”.)