Why Do You Do What You Do?

John 1: ²⁴ Now the Pharisees who had been sent ²⁵ questioned him, ‘Why then do you baptise if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?’

²⁶ ‘I baptise with water,’ John replied, ‘but among you stands one you do not know. ²⁷ He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’

²⁸ This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptising.

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“Here, take these” were the words as he handed me a pair of shoes. A friend saw my holey shoes and gave me a pair of his. I couldn’t afford new shoes and I couldn’t pay him back. “Here, take my car” said an uncle, giving me his car for a few dollars.

• Sometimes I wonder what makes people do what they do.
• Sometimes I wonder what the motive is behind their actions.
• Sometimes I wonder why people have helped me.

“Why do you baptize?” the church leaders asked John, questioning his authority. John gave his reason, namely JESUS.

• Because JESUS saved me, I am forever grateful.
• Because JESUS saved me, I feel a desire to server others.
• Because JESUS saved me, I want others to crave HIS grace.

When I get tired, JESUS is there to strengthen me to continue on. When things are falling apart all around me, JESUS is there to pick up the pieces and make me whole. JESUS gives me purpose and keeps me going. HE is my desire.

• Why do you do what you do?
• Are you trying to satisfy your inner desires?
• Can you turn your desires over to GOD so HE can do a marvelous work through you today?

Something Inside

Luke 8: ⁴ And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable: ⁵ “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. ⁶ Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. ⁷ And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it.⁸ But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.” When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

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As we ate lunch the former officer over the department confided in me. He let me know in so many words that he watched over me. He didn’t directly say it, rather he thanked me for things I had no idea he knew.

• There were times when I was taken care of and did not know it.
• There were times when I was being watched over and had no idea why.
• There were times when I was protected and didn’t even realize I was in danger.

JESUS tells a parable of “The Sower.” What I noticed was the sower went out to sow some HIS seed. What made the sower go out?

• JESUS wants the best for me.
• JESUS seeks me daily and wants me to hear HIM.
• JESUS is motivated by love to seek me and feels a great loss when I do not listen.

What makes a person care for another person? JESUS! HE opens my wounded heart and fills it with HIS love, care and compassion. I would be exhausted if it were not for JESUS. HE is my “something inside.”

• Do you want motivation?
• Are you running on empty?
• Can you understand GOD’s compassion for you and allow HIM to change your life today?

Motivation

Mark 4: And again He began to teach by the sea. And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea. ² Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching:

³ “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. ⁴ And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it. ⁵ Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. ⁶ But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. ⁷ And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. ⁸ But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

⁹ And He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

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“I wanna go!” was my immediate response when I heard that my siblings and some neighbors would possibly travel to the local amusement park. I just knew it would be fun and I imagined myself on all the rides. I also said “I wanna go” on vacations, restaurants visits to relatives and recreation.

• Sometimes I am motivated by getting something that I will enjoy.
• Sometimes I am motivated to work hard so I can get to some place where I can relax.
• Sometimes I am motivated to endure life’s trials so I can eventually reach society’s utopia.

Where there was fun I wanted to be there, but what about GOD? I mean HE has stuff for me to do as well right? Yes, but sometimes I am not motivated to do HIS work. I was quite amazed at the beginning of the parable. “A sower went out to sow.” What motivated the sower?

• GOD wants me to be motivated to seek the lost because HE sought me.
• GOD wants me to be excited to spread HIS Gospel because HE saved me with it.
• GOD wants me to be inspired to seek HIS kingdom first then HE will add to me what HE pleases.

Saving people from eternal death was the motivation of the sower. HE created me and does not want me to be lost. HE gives me seeds of wisdom, knowledge and understanding and it is up to me to allow them to grow. HE wants me to do the same to others.

• Are you stuck?
• Do you feel like hiding instead of running out and shouting in praise?
• Can you come out of your hiding place to serve JESUS today just because HE loves you?

I thought I did it Myself

Psalm 64: ⁹ All people will fear;
    they will proclaim the works of God
    and ponder what he has done.

¹⁰ The righteous will rejoice in the Lord
    and take refuge in him;
    all the upright in heart will glory in him!

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Leadership training taught me to take credit for “my” accomplishments and help others do the same. I saw videos that showed the power of one person stopping a tank. I “can” be powerful, I thought to myself.

• I have read so many motivational sayings about power from within.
• I have heard so many people tell me “I” am great.
• I have listened to motivators tell me “I can conquer anything” but they leave off “how.”

Arrogance is bred when “I” think “I” accomplished anything on my own. I mean I have held some great titles and been rewarded by people. Sometimes these awards went to my head and I thought I was doing something. BUT GOD truly wants me to give HIM credit.

• GOD wants me to acknowledge I cannot anything on my own.
• GOD wants me to state that HE can tear me down or lift me up as HE pleases.
• GOD wants me to understand that all “my” works are known by HIM way before I do them.

There is no power within me. GOD is my source of power. HE gave me an empty shell and I have the choice to fill it up with “me” or HIM. No matter what I choose, when it is all over I will be required to proclaim the works of GOD. I choose to believe that GOD is my refuge and I rejoice at all HE is doing!

• Do you feel self-made?
• Do you lack confidence?
• Can you stop looking at yourself and start looking at GOD for the source of your strength?
• Do you know when you are at your weakest, GOD’s strength shines bright?
• Can you reset your confidence by going after “that” thing with GOD in front of you?

Peaceful Contentment

Philippians 4: ¹²I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

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Money was my motivator. You want me to do something, show me the money. Little did I know I had a greater motivator, namely fear. When the account was slipping away from us I worked extremely hard to keep everything going.

I worked thirty six hours straight, forsaking meals and family. We still lost the account and I found myself on the “bench.” “If I stayed there too long I could lose my job”, I thought to myself. I missed the fact that leaving my family and forgetting my health may have caused problems. 

• When I am poor I worry about paying bills.
• When I am in the middle I worry about becoming rich.
• When I am rich I worry about losing my wealth.
• When I am discontent I complain about GOD’s plan.

Each of my worries shows my discontentment. GOD couldn’t possibly be right with “this” plan I would think to myself. I mean HE wants me to keep moving forward right? Maybe… but with what kind of attitude?

It seems like I am always waiting for the other shoe to drop. In other words I am always waiting for things to “get better” rather than looking at the greatness that’s going on around me. 

• GOD wants me to have peace in the middle of each storm.
• GOD wants me to be content when HE gives me plenty and when HE takes my wealth away.
• GOD wants me to have peace during times of crisis.
• GOD wants me to be content when things aren’t going quite the way I planned.

From the inconvenient car accident to the bag of money falling out of the sky, GOD wants me to view HIS plan as being great. HE desires that I follow HIM and look to HIM for my strength rather than looking at my wealth.

• Are you seeking more money or more stuff?
• What trinket or gadget or title or group is holding you back from your contentment?
• Can you assess you desire to see if it is greater than your love for GOD?
• Are you willing to leave that thing and accept what GOD wants you to have?
• Can you focus your ambitions on what GOD wants?

Self-ambition is great when used right.

James 3: ¹⁴ But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. ¹⁵ Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

 ¹⁷ But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸ Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

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Christmas morning finally arrived. Food was being prepared in the kitchen and the kids were circling the presents. It was time to fellowship and celebrate the birth of our Savior, JESUS who is the CHRIST but not for me. Instead I dialed into the conference call that was scheduled the night before.

There was a serious situation at work that needed to be addressed and I had to participate in the solution. Of course this serious situation was different from the last serious situation so I was justified in being mentally absent from the family, right? I mean I could have gotten a promotion out of this!

• Self-ambition is great but can be easily misused.
• Self-ambition can blind me of what is truly important.
• Self-ambition can sometimes be fueled by jealousy or a desire to have that higher position no matter the cost.
• Self-ambition can stir up pride that leads me in a direction that says “I don’t need GOD.”

There is nothing wrong with hard work or taking pride in my craft. GOD is pleased when I work hard and live upright. HE doesn’t like when my self-ambition is motivated by greed, lust or envy. Yes, I will get more stuff and a classy title but lose myself in the process.

• GOD wants me to be motivated by love not lust.
• GOD wants me to be motivated by grace not greed.
• GOD wants me to be motivated by mercy not money.
• GOD wants me to be motivated by consideration not con games.
• GOD wants me to be motivated by peace not pay dirt.

By telling people that GOD loves me so much that HE died just for me and is now alive, gives them hope and peace. My motivation should be focused on serving others with sincerity instead of being self-serving.

GOD has called me to bring peace to many people. I now take steps in managing a healthy life with CHRIST focused on “sowing” the right things.

• Are you ambitious?
• Can you focus some of your energy on GOD today?
• Can you be driven and self-motivated in helping someone today?

IF (by Rudyard Kipling)

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream---and not make dreams your master;
If you can think---and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:.
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And---which is more---you'll be a Man, my son!