Properly Motivated

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Bible Reading

  • Matthew 16
  • Hebrews 12:1-4
  • 1 Cor 15:55-58

Devotional Thoughts

How in the world can Jesus say of Peter, “This truth was given to you directly by my Father,” and 3 verses later also say, “These thoughts of yours don’t come from God, but from human nature.” ESV says, “You are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man?”

Is this not the testimony so often of our lives? We can be living for Jesus and making right choices in one moment, and in the very next thought, be pursuing our own selfish desires! We constantly face the battle in our minds for the source by which we are going to choose to live. Gal 5:16-17 tells us that the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh. It’s our choice. “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

Jesus goes on in Matthew 16:25-26 to say, “If you want to save your own life, you will lose it; but if you lose your life for my sake, you will find it.” In Romans 8:5-8 Paul says something similar. “Those who live according to the flesh, have set their minds on the things of the flesh. Those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set your mind on the flesh is death, but to set your mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”

The last couple days I have been tired, and a little discouraged. I have lacked motivation. As I sat down to spend time with the Lord this morning, I prayed, “What truth do I need to declare today? I believe this is the truth I need to live by today! “Those who save their own life will lose it, but if I choose to lose my life, for His sake, I will reap a greater reward!”

Here’s a couple more verses to help declare God’s truth for today:

  1. 1 Cor 15:55-58 “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 
  2. Heb 12:1-4 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

Truth Declarations:

  1. Those who save their own life will lose it, but if I choose to lose my life, for His sake, I will reap a greater reward!” (Matt 16:25)
  2. To set your mind on the flesh is death, but to set your mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” (Rom 8:6)
  3. Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Cor 15:58)
  4. Looking unto Jesus… for the joy set before him endured the cross… consider him so that you may not grow weary and fainthearted.

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