How concerned is our society about motive? How often do we hear in police shows about a criminal's motive?
We are motivated to do something either because of need or due to passion. Do we first learn motivation by need rather than passion?
Those of us who are parents could do everything for our children even after they become adults. We could consume ourselves to meet their every need until the day we die. How then would our adult children ever become motivated to do something for themselves? Every person must face their own needs to become motivated to help themselves.
We learn motivation from our own need unless stopped from doing so by parents or government. Once we embrace our very own motive to do something, we can begin a search for our passion. On this journey we can eliminate the things we are not passionate about. When we focus on our passion, we become motivated not due to need but because of the strong emotion attached to our passion. A person motivated to do something out of passion cannot be stopped and is contagious.
"I can do everything through [Jesus] who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
MOVE ONWARD FROM YOUR SUFFERINGS
"We are dumb sheep after all. Without suffering, we go astray. Through God's Word we can obey our Father in Heaven: Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word." Psalms 119:67
"And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hears by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5:2b-5. Have you come to the point of hope in your sufferings? Focus on Jesus Christ and the truth of His Word.
"It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees." Psalms 119:71. Have you come to the point of believing your suffering was good? Do your sufferings turn you to Jesus and His Word?
We are motivated in two ways, passion and need. Because we are sinners we have no passion for moving towards righteousness. Fortunately Jesus come to us.
Suffering to the point of need finally motivates us. The Holy Spirit was given to us so we would move towards Jesus in our need.
"And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hears by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5:2b-5. Have you come to the point of hope in your sufferings? Focus on Jesus Christ and the truth of His Word.
"It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees." Psalms 119:71. Have you come to the point of believing your suffering was good? Do your sufferings turn you to Jesus and His Word?
We are motivated in two ways, passion and need. Because we are sinners we have no passion for moving towards righteousness. Fortunately Jesus come to us.
Suffering to the point of need finally motivates us. The Holy Spirit was given to us so we would move towards Jesus in our need.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
THANK THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR BELIEF IN JESUS
How do humans believe? What is the definition of the term “belief”? Is believing in something or someone more of a mystery compared to a behavior? When does the Bible talk about beliefs?
After the transfiguration of Jesus, Mark records the following:
When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.
"What are you arguing with them about?" he asked.
A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not."
"O unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me."
So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?"
"From childhood," he answered. "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."
"'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
Mark 9: 14-24.
Does believing include the admission of unbelief? Do humans by themselves not have the strength to believe?
The man needing help from Jesus for his boy talked to Jesus. When humans now talk to Jesus most call such talking prayer.
[T]he Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
Romans 8:26. How often do humans rely on the Holy Spirit when talking to Jesus?
Jesus is always the answer. He told His disciples after He cleared the temple "whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:24. Past tense relying on God in the present is belief. The most clear past tense communication for the glory of His Kingdom is thankfulness.
After the transfiguration of Jesus, Mark records the following:
When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.
"What are you arguing with them about?" he asked.
A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not."
"O unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me."
So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?"
"From childhood," he answered. "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."
"'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
Mark 9: 14-24.
Does believing include the admission of unbelief? Do humans by themselves not have the strength to believe?
The man needing help from Jesus for his boy talked to Jesus. When humans now talk to Jesus most call such talking prayer.
[T]he Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
Romans 8:26. How often do humans rely on the Holy Spirit when talking to Jesus?
Jesus is always the answer. He told His disciples after He cleared the temple "whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:24. Past tense relying on God in the present is belief. The most clear past tense communication for the glory of His Kingdom is thankfulness.
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