The Right Motivation     2 Corinthians 5

Which of the images above best describe your motivation for pleasing God?

In his book "The Shape of Faith to Come" (Broadman, Nashville, 2008), Brad Waggoner reveals that only 37% of adults who attend a Protestant church at least once a month claim to live their lives to please God. What do the other 63% live for? What do you live for?

As believers we have been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. His death on the cross satisfied God's righteous judgment upon our sin. Jesus took our place. We no longer need to fear death or being separated from God. We owe Jesus everything! Therefore, we are to make it our aim to be pleasing to Him. God's redemption and blessing are without cost; but He will hold us accountable for how we used our redeemed lives for His purposes. This judgment Paul speaks of in 2 Corinthians 5:10 is for believers only. Our sin has been forever judged at the cross. This judgment is about our stewardship. We will receive reward or be embarrassed before the One who died for us.

The Apostle Paul was convinced that he (and we) would stand before God in judgment, but he was also compelled by the love of God. That God would sacrifice His only Son to die for the sin of others completely astounded Paul. Such a love should be received; and such a love must be proclaimed! The term "compels us" in 2 Corinthians 5:14 is the word used to refer to people suffering with diseases in Matthew 4:24 and Luke 4:38. Paul was literally sick with Christ's love! That is why he made the comment about "being out of our mind". Evidently some accused Paul of being crazy, due to his actions in serving Christ. Indeed, even when later standing before King Agrippa for judgment, Paul tried to convert him and was told, "You are beside yourself! Much learning has made you mad!" (Acts 26:24-29). Paul's love for Christ, and being overwhelmed with Christ's love for him, drove Paul to lose himself in the service of Christ. Do you love Jesus enough to serve Him, no matter what or where?

God's purpose for us all is that we be reconciled to Him through the sacrifice of Jesus, and that we in turn spread the Gospel (Good News) of this reconciliation to everyone. Paul used the word ambassador; we are ambassadors for Christ. We are Christ's representatives here on earth. The only way people will hear of Christ's great love and sacrifice is if we share it with them. God is indeed appealing to the world of humanity through us. We plead with people on God's behalf. Ours is a Gospel of rescue! We need to be more desperate in our efforts to share Christ with the world around us.

Fear, guilt, and manipulation will only motivate for a short period of time. After a while we will no longer fear, stop feeling guilty and grow tired of being manipulated. Such impure motivations only lead to frustration, doubt, anger, and desertion from the cause. We will be judged by God for our service to Him; but we will also be held accountable for our motivations. Do we serve Christ out of love for Him, concern for the lost, and a desire to please Him in all things? Or do we serve for lesser reasons?

Go, Tell It On the Mountain     Luke 1

Two great quotes that relate to our lesson for this coming Sunday:

"[Scrooge] became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the old city knew...Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh..." from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

"How many there are...who imagine that because Jesus paid it all, they need pay nothing, forgetting that the prime object of their salvation was that they should follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ in bringing back a lost world to God."  Missionary Lottie Moon, Tungchow, China, 1887

We are all saved to serve and made for a mission. The old hymn 'Go, Tell it On the Mountain' echoes this sentiment perfectly. And so does Zechariah's song of praise and prophecy in Luke 1. He affirmed that Messiah would come to bring redemption and peace to all people, and that those who would be delivered should serve Him without fear. As you prepare for Sunday School this week, focus on those three words: redemption, peace, serve. If you have enjoyed redemption through Jesus Christ, how are you enjoying that peace? How can you spread Christ's message of redemption and peace by serving Him?

The real story of Ebenezer Scrooge is one of transformation. When his heart was changed, he was changed. The real story of Christmas is one of transformation. God became a man-child so we could become children of God. Jesus came to die so we could be transformed into the likeness of God. Only the redeemed can truly understand the meaning of Christmas, because  the Christ-child came to "save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21b).

Those who have experienced God's redemption through Jesus Christ enjoy peace with God. At the end of Zechariah's prophetic song of praise in Luke 1 he declares that Messiah will "guide our feet into the way of peace" (Luke 1:79). Deliverance from sin through Jesus brings us peace with God, but also ushers us into a life of peace as we learn to depend on Him by faith. Luke uses the Greek word 'eirene' for peace 14 times, more than any other New Testament book. It implies the presence of safety, security, and justice. That is certainly a benefit worth proclaiming!

The theme of serving, and proclamation, is the center of Zechariah's song in Luke 1:72-77. "He has given us the privilege, since we have been rescued from our enemies' clutches, to serve Him without fear in holiness and righteousness in His presence all our days" (Luke 1:73b-75). We are saved to serve and made for a mission. it is a mission of proclaiming His offer of redemption.

The earlier quote from missionary Lottie Moon shows that she understood well the meaning of this passage in Luke's gospel. Read her pointed words again and determine to share Christ with someone this Christmas!!

The Results of Knowing Jesus        Mark 8,9,10

How long does it take to grow a disciple? John Mark, author of the gospel that bears his name, is known for his frequent use of the word "immediately" (some translations use 'straightway'). However, you won't find it anywhere near a teaching on discipleship. Disciples are not born (they ARE born again!), they are made. Discipleship is a deliberate process of following Jesus and allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us into His likeness. It is no coincidence that 'discipline' and 'disciple' are similar words. One concept is inseparably linked to the other. Discipleship requires lifelong discipline.

Jesus did not paint an easy picture for those who would be His disciples. He set the bar high, and we in the modern church have no authority to lower it. Although this lesson includes teaching passages from Mark 8,9, & 10, Jesus' statement in Mark 8:34 contains the complete recipe of discipleship. The illustration of the cross is an all-encompassing image of self-denial, service, and suffering. Jesus explicitly said that to be His follower was no picnic. How much of that is hidden in modern-day evangelism and church-growth philosophies?

Jesus taught in Mark 8:34-38 that self-denial is the only path to a life worth living. How else do we "find our life" but through spending it for the cause of Christ? We do not find it in wealth, possessions, escapism, physical gratification, popularity, business, worldly success, family, or even church. (Let's face it; we do not deny ourselves much at church.) Jesus modeled self-denial as no one else possibly could. He denied Himself many of the prerogatives, and even the very presence of, Deity. The passage in Philippians 2:6-11 is the landmark description of just how low Jesus stooped to reach our level of living. But in stooping to our physical level, He boosted us to His spiritual level, as evidenced in the latter portion of the Philippians passage mentioned earlier. In like manner, our life of self-denial in following Jesus is the pathway by which we find ultimate fulfillment and satisfaction in this life, and in the life to come. We "find our life" (Mark 8:35).

In Mark 9:33-37 Jesus sets a child in the midst of His disciples and challenges their willingness to serve. In the culture of that day children held no status and few rights, viewed almost as property by their families. Jesus declared that the greatest among us is the one ready to serve the least among us. Again, Mark 8:34 challenges us to serve unselfishly like Jesus by following Him in a cross-bearing manner of living. What is cross-bearing? It is sacrificial service to all, even the least in society's hierarchy.

In Mark 10:32-34 Jesus warns His disciples for the third time about His impending arrest, abuse, and crucifixion. Jesus was obviously fixed on this series of events that lay just ahead. Although not relishing the prospect of suffering, He was able to accept it as the will of the Father. Again, this is brought out in Mark 8:34. Taking up the cross means a willingness to accept suffering for the cause of Christ.

I continually wrestle with these burdensome concepts. I find that I deny myself little, like being served, and avoid suffering at all costs far more often than otherwise. I have also discovered that when I do seek to follow Jesus with a Mark 8:34 devotion I realize more peace, fulfillment, passion, joy, and contentment than ever before. The battle rages between my stubborn flesh that desires to be happy, and the Spirit within, Who desires that I be holy. Momentary happiness from self-gratification in between struggles, or lasting contentment and peace that prevails through all of my circumstances. It seems this would be an easy choice. At times it is; other times it represents the greatest of struggles. But one of the supreme results of knowing Jesus is experiencing progress in the struggle. Over time, I see myself choosing to follow Jesus more and myself less. I relish more victory over self; I enjoy greater peace; I begin to understand settled contentment; I see more Kingdom usefulness. And in these things I "find my life".