Motivation

“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.” 2 Corinthians 5:14

There is a difference between saying that you believe something, and actually believing what you say you believe. It is one thing to say it and another thing altogether to live it out. The first requires intellect, but the second requires conviction. One needs only words, but the other must have sacrifice. There is a question I would like you to ponder: As a follower of Christ, do you believe what you claim to believe?

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” As Christians, we have staked our eternity on this statement. This is the foundation of the Gospel – that Jesus is our only hope of a relationship with God. If we really believe in the redeeming and transforming power of Christ in a person’s life - and that our relatives, friends, neighbors, and co-workers will only go to heaven if they know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, then the single greatest gift we can ever give anyone is a clear explanation of how to be rightly connected to God through Jesus Christ. How could any true Christian who believes the words of Christ deny that statement?

The question remains, then, why do so many self-proclaimed Christians rarely share their faith with anyone? I believe that many times it comes down to an issue of motivation. In life, many things motivate us. Fear, guilt, love, money, power, and popularity can all be motivators. Regardless of the source, when motivation reaches a certain level we will do what we are motivated to do.

When it comes to sharing our faith, love should always be our motivator, not guilt or fear. Love for God and love for other people should be what compels us to share the Good News of Jesus with others. In 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, Paul wrote, “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.” Look at the words of this passage…Christ’s love, compels, convinced, one died, for all, raised again…When we become convinced of Christ’s love for us through the Gospel, His love will compel us to share this message with others.

So, are you convinced that Christ died for all? If so, are you motivated by His love to share that message with others?

God, thank You for sending Christ to die for my sins. May His love for me always compel me to share that love with others. In Jesus’ name, amen.