Understand Your Mission

Pray – (1/2 minute)

Read – (2 1/2 minutes) – “  If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15)
  Passage: 2 Corinthians 5:14-21

        My siblings and I were blessed with wonderful, godly parents who were both very involved in our lives. I sometimes joke that I respected my dad, but feared my mom, but the reason for is that my mother was the quicker disciplinarian since my dad had long days with his commute and the job he had. Fear of negative consequence for behavior is a base motivation for a child’s obedience. It is a motivation for a student studying so he won’t fail a test or an employee showing up and working so he won’t lose his job.
      When I became an older teen, the motivation in my relationship with my parents matured to a much higher motivation. I became motivated to please them out of love. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.” Fear of God, which is having awe and reverence for God, knowing you will give an account of your life is a foundational motivation for obedience, but love is the highest motivation. A love for Jesus will motivate you to do two things. One is to love fellow believers. (John 13:34). The second is to have a desire to see people receive Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:14) Be motivated by love and let God use you to impact the world.   

Apply - (2 1/2 minutes)
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Pray - (1 1/2 minutes)