Life On MissionSample

It takes motivation to get things done. You need to be motivated to save money, lose weight, break an addiction or pick up a new routine. Those things take effort and intentionality.

When I was in junior high, I bought an obscenely bright orange sweatshirt, just like my friend Cody. The next year, I shaved lines into my hair for dramatic effect like Alexie. The next year, I pegged my pants like Kevin. All of these fashion adventures were motivated by a longing to be cool and accepted. Little did I know that my prolonged deliberation left me on the back end of every trend. I was always super cool for 1992 despite the fact it was late 1993.

Motivations influence practice. What motivates you propels you to action? When we look at the life of Jesus, we see someone that had clear and distinct motivations. The difference between Jesus’ motivations and ours is that his motivations were focused on others and never selfish.

Jesus didn’t see people as obstacles, challenges, irritants or problems. He didn’t see them as projects that needed his attention.

He had compassion for them. This compassion motivated him to get involved in their lives. This motivation compelled him to stretch out his hand to heal, restore and encourage. We would do well to be motivated with compassion just as Jesus was.
I think God can give you His heart for people. This is the reason we should pray for our enemies, not because they will figure out that we were right. Prayer changes us to a far greater degree than it changes anyone else. Ask God to show you people in your life that He wants you to have greater compassion for. Pray that you will have greater compassion for them.