Family Devotion 10/4/09

Do you ever think about why you do the things you do? Do you
do your homework because you’re looking to your future, and
you want to learn? Or is your motivation for doing your homework
because you have to or you will fail, or because mom or
dad tell you to? Do you go to work because you love what you
do or is your motivation to bring home a paycheck? Do you
clean the house because it makes you or another family member
happy or are you required to?

Our motivation for the things we do or the way we behave can
influence our quality of life. Life is much more enjoyable when
we do things because we want to or out of love for someone. If
we are required or expected to do most things then it becomes
very difficult to continue in this behavior pattern. Children respond
better to parents and authority better when they respect
and love them. They want to please these authority figures.

The best response would be a natural response rather than a
command.

Read John 14:15-24 through the lens of “I have to,” then read
it through the lens of “I want to.” What happens when you read
it from the perspective of obeying Jesus’ commandments are
a direct result of loving Him because of what He has done for
you? There is a huge difference in motivation when we know
that Jesus died to forgive us of all our sins. It is even greater
when we understand that He sent the Spirit (a helper) to live in
us so that we’ll know that He’s always there with us. It becomes
our nature to obey God—because we want to.

This week think about what Jesus has done. When we understand
the reality of what Jesus did for us, we begin to trust
Him and become less dependent on our own power. When we
begin to live in reality, the love of God actually transforms us
and we have a desire to be obedient because we realize His
ways are best. When we embrace Jesus and the gift He has
given we want to be obedient to Him and serve Him each day.

Connection Questions:
1. What are some things you do because you are required to? What are some things you do because you want to?

2. Based upon the passage we read how are believers different
than those who don’t believe?

3. What is the result of obedience versus the result of disobedience?

4. How does being obedient speak to the rest of the world?

5. What can you do this week to alter your motivation for
obedience?