Who or what motivates me?

 Exercise and prayer are on my to-do list but both require great determination. Exercise is hard and so is extended prayer. This morning, I’m challenged to think about both, first as what motivates me to consider them necessities, and second to rate them accordingly.

First, the Bible says: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31) While eating and drinking are necessities, exercise and prayer (especially prayer), are high on the list. By this verse, do I do these things for His glory? What should that look like and what difference would it make? I’ve questions to answer.

Is God asking me to do either one? Prayer is a given. All the Bible says about exercise is that every athlete exercises self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable reward. (1 Corinthians 9:25). And while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. (1 Timothy 4:8) While not commanded, exercise is not forbidden, however self-control in food and activities tends to aid control of ‘self’ in other areas. But exercise to have a fit body should not be an obsession  or be the sole goal of life.
 
Charnock challenges me to put the rule of God and His glory as my main motivation.  He points out that people will abstain from excess and other things that will ruin their health, not because God told them not to do it. It is merely being kind to their health, not respecting or observing the rights of God to say, “Thus saith the Lord.” 

Not only that, demons may be subservient to God but not on account of loving obedience to His will or sovereignty, totally unlike Jesus who “humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8)

Obedience is also to be sincere and to only God. 

Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ” (Matthew 4:10)
So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge. (Acts 4:18–19)
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men. (Colossians 3:23)

Also, I cannot pick and choose among His commands. This would be choosing what I want, and treating His authority as if He is only half sovereign. He is Lord of the world, and His laws are to be obeyed in every part of the world, not just in a particular climate or territory.

Obedience must be indisputable too, as illustrated by the centurion that had obedience from his soldiers who did what He ordered. 

For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” (Matthew 8:9)

It is even more fit for me to I obey promptly when God gives me an order. I may not understand some of them, but He is sovereign, and therefore it is without dispute that I am to obey Him for no other reason than: “Thus saith the Lord.”

And the last point that speaks greatly to my situation regarding prayer and exercise is that my obedience must be joyful, not dull, feeble, sour-tempered or sad. This would suggest that His commands are grievous, without the peace and pleasure He proclaims to be in them, and that He deserves no respect from me if I obey him only because I must, and not because I will or because I love Him. 

Obedience is submission, an act of the body, not just of the mind and heart. David wrote: “Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.” (Psalm 119:24) This should be true for me also.

PRAY: Lord God, as soon as I read this, I confessed to You my failure of attitude and right motive to do what You call me to do. Not always, but enough to reveal the selfishness of my heart and how that spoils the joy of doing what You ask. This may seem small to others, but I am aware already of a deep change of heart from listening to Your voice and agreeing that my attitude is not always what it should be. Thank You for Your forgiveness and Your power to cleanse and change, to make a difference, and to bless me. Amen.

A good reason to joyfully do my job . . .

 

2 Kings 3; Psalms 114–115; Daniel 7; 2 Thessalonians 3

God chooses a people (Israel) and then all who believe in His Son (the church) to be unique, like Him, that we will display what He is like to a fallen world. One of the characteristics of God is that He is busy, not idle, not sleeping, not oblivious to the need of His skills in a world that suffers under the bondage of sin and the fear of death. His people are to be like Him.

For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy but warn him as a brother. (2 Thessalonians 3:7–15)

Yesterday, my focus thought was DILIGENCE vs Slothfulness. The reminder card said I was to, “Visualize each task as a special assignment from the Lord and using all my energies to accomplish it. The verse was: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” (Colossians 3:23)

I remembered as a new Christian I was not fond of many household chores but when God spoke to me using this verse, I decided to do my responsibilities ‘working heartily’ for Him rather than any other reason. That changed everything. Soon I was gladly scrubbing, cleaning, cooking and doing other household tasks with joy and a song in my heart. Nothing else changed, just my attitude.

However, I’d let that attitude slip lately concerning one chore. I’m making a queen-size quilt for someone and it is challenging. The design is simple but working with that size and amount of fabric is physically demanding. I was beginning to dread the task and wanting to goof off instead of wrestling with yards of cotton. That focus verse jarred me into confessing my attitude and the Lord gave me a renewed sense of purpose. I could do this task for Him and then the work became a delight.

Today He repeats the reminder, going a bit deeper. He reminds me that He is not idle or lazy. He never messes around but does His work with purpose and without getting weary. This is so important because it is being like God —a characteristic that His people, including me, must imitate, copy, do in His enabling power — so the world can see that God is not sitting back on His heavenly throne and simply watching His creation. He is actively involved even though we cannot always what He is doing.

APPLY: Knowing God is tirelessly at work for me motivates me to be joyful in dedicating all that I do to Him. It matters not if anyone else sees what I do; He sees. He also rewards, not with praise or money or honor of any kind, but with joy and with the certainty that happily being busy is also being like my Creator and God.