What’s your motivation for obeying Jesus? I ask this question because over the years I have heard a predominate answer from the pulpit, Bible studies, podcasts, individual women, and more. The prevailing answer: gratitude. You may have heard it said, “If you look at the cross and realize how much Jesus did for you, then you will gladly obey Him out of gratitude.” But is that all?
First of all, of course gratitude is a good motivation. In fact, God says, “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me” (Psalm 50:23a). Though we are supposed to do everything to the glory of God (I Corinthians 11:31), God directly links our thanksgiving of Him to our glorification of Him. Jesus commends thanksgiving in His earthly ministry too. On one occasion, Jesus heals ten lepers and He commends the one who comes back to give thanks to God (Luke 17:11-19). Therefore, gratitude for Jesus’ suffering and death on a cross for our sake will always be a motivation for our obedience.
Next, the runner-up would probably be love. Also, a great motivator. I John 4:19 says, “We love because He first loved us.” We are overwhelmed by the sacrificial love of Jesus and cannot help but love in return. Therefore, what most people mean when they say love, they mean the feeling of love. That feel good, warms-your-heart kind of love. Again, completely legit motivation for obeying the One who filled our hearts with this love. “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:5b).
I believe we only hear about the motivations above because of our broken gospel, but that is a longer conversation. For now, let me list a few more motivations.
Agape – Greek word for love that is action-based irrespective of feelings. This would be the love found inside covenant. “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves [agape] me. And he who loves [agape] me will be loved [agape] by my Father, and I will love [agape] him and manifest myself to him” (John 14:21). God does not care if you “like” Him all the time, but He does expect you to love [agape] Him. This is clearly seen in one of Jesus’ parables. It is found in Luke 19:11-27 and is similar to the one Rachel mentioned a few days ago. The parable in Luke tells the story of a nobleman who received a kingdom and put servants in charge during his absence. Then the story states, “But the citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us'” (verse 14). Needless to say, this was not an acceptable excuse for the nobleman. The nobleman did not care how the citizens felt about him, but he did expect their. . .
Allegiance. I mentioned in a previous post how we are compared to soldiers (e.g., II Timothy 2:3-4; Ephesians 6:10-20). One of God’s names is Yahweh Sabaoth – God of Angel Armies; He is the Commander. Ooohhhh. This is just too good. I saw a billboard for the Marines the other day which stated, “We don’t accept applications, only commitments.” Brilliant marketing. Sisters, this tagline would be more than fitting on a church sign too since Jesus Himself accepts nothing less than our lives (Luke 9:23). Furthermore, Jesus is King. He opens His ministry proclaiming, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:14-15). This is allegiance language to the coming King, who is Jesus. We obey because He is worthy of our obedience/allegiance purely based on the fact that He is the King and He is the Commander.
Fear of the Lord. No, this did not go away with Jesus or the New Testament. In fact, Jesus Himself commanded that we fear God (e.g., Matthew 10:28; Luke 12:5). Some other verses in the New Testament to support this are:
“So do not become proud but fear” (Romans 11:20).
“Therefore knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others” (II Corinthians 5:11).
“. . . work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12)
“Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor” (I Peter 2:17)
And there are others. Yes, there are verses which discuss how perfect love casts out fear and how God has not given us a spirit of fear. However, we cannot take those verses and form an entire theology which excludes the fear of God altogether.
Godly grief. Paul pronounces in his second letter to the Corinthians, “As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting” (7:9a). Paul is referencing a rebuke he gave the Corinthians concerning a sin issue. Therefore, this godly grief can come from the Holy Spirit inside of us OR it can come from a loving, sisterly rebuke. Gasp, but yes, some times it takes a member of the Body of Christ to awaken us to our blind spots. This godly grief motivates us to correct the behavior.
AND MORE!! Feel free to leave a comment below if you want to add another!
Let me end with this. It is permissible to desire a reason for why we should obey. However, let us beware of the mistake in thinking God is like us (Psalm 50:21). Sometimes, the why is beyond our comprehension (Isaiah 55:8-9). God can handle our “why’s,” but we are not at liberty to demand an answer prior to our obedience. We are women who walk by faith and God has demonstrated enough of His character to trust Him. As Deuteronomy 29:29 proclaims, “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.”
Sisters, search the Scriptures. There are many motivations; so trust God and obey.
By the River Together 