The Right Motivation
In every relationship there are governing principles that activate the best case scenario for everyone involved. For instance, a marriage must be governed by trust and sincerity. Our relationship with God must be governed by love to experience His power.
Jesus said in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give unto you that you love one another as I have loved you…by this shall all men know that you are my disciples if you have love one for another.” This new commandment is totally different than the Ten Commandments given to the Jews under Moses. This means that we, living under the New Testament, are motivated by something totally different than the people of the Old Testament. I am going to say something that may shock you: We are not governed by the Ten Commandments anymore. If we follow this new love law then we will fulfill the Ten Commandments and never break any one of them. Remember that the Bible tells us that no person could ever obey the Ten Commandments completely. That is until God put a different motive in us. When we confess Christ as our personal Lord and Savior then God gives us a new nature. Romans 5:5 says, “And hope makes not ashamed because the LOVE OF GOD IS SHED ABROAD IN OUR HEARTS BY THE HOLY SPIRIT…” When you get saved God replaces that old sin nature with His nature of love. Love is your new motive in your relationship towards God. We now can love God like He loves us!
Many Christians are stuck in life because they are constantly looking over their shoulders wondering where they missed it. They are constantly trying to keep God’s commandments for fear that the wrath of God could come upon them for sinning. You must remember that God has already put His wrath upon Jesus and if you are Born Again then you are no longer the object of God’s wrath. (1 Thess 5:9) A lifestyle like that is basically telling God that your motive for obeying Him is simply to avoid punishment. Christians can’t be motivated like that! That is what the Old Testament was about! Your motive for obeying God is because you LOVE HIM! If you are just living life around the guilt of your mistakes then you won’t live in the power! Make your greatest motivation to love God like He loves you and you won’t continue to get dogged by the same old sinful living. I don’t obey God for fear of His wrath; I obey God because I love Him and His Son! Love is a choice.
When you love someone you want to please them at all costs. True love is when your stomach feels sick if you displeased that person. That same thing is true with God. If it doesn’t make your heart feel sick when you do something that would displease Him then you do not love God. Only when you dread the thought of displeasing God out of love will you live a new life!
Pastor Tim
Family Church Jamestown is a non-denominational church located in Chautauqua County in Jamestown between Lakewood and Busti, NY. The senior pastor of Family Church is Pastor Tim Stahlman a native to the Jamestown, NY area.
