subject: What Motivates You? [print this page] Are you discontented with an empty, meaningless, pointless life where everything just focuses on you and your own pleasures? Have you found out that what you have is not satisfying; so you get another goal; and then, when you reach it, you find out it"s not satisfying either? You are not alone.
Over and over in Scripture, we see people desperately crying out to God for mercy. Whether it was the sick, the crippled, or the demon-possessed, these people came to Jesus seeking His mercy for their problems. What is it that brings a person to a position where they are conscious of their need for mercy from God? Hebrews 4:1, "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it." These people who are conscious of their need for God"s mercy are motivated to come boldly to God for mercy because of fear. I understand that Jesus said, "Fear not" oftentimes to his disciples. There are some things we should not fear; but at the same time, there is a healthy fear that every Christian ought to have. I want my life to count for Jesus Christ. I want to know that I made a positive difference in this world. I want my wife and our children to know that I was a man of God, and I had an influence in their life. I want to be a faithful pastor. However, I live with fear of falling short of that goal. I do not want to do anything, be anything, or go anywhere that will ruin the potential that I have for Jesus Christ in this life. So, I am motivated by that fear. People who are conscious of their need for God"s mercy are motivated by fear.
People who seek God"s mercy are also motivated by the Word of God. Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." The Bible is alive, and it beats with the heartbeat of Jesus Christ. It is far more than just pieces of paper in a bound book; it is the living Word of God. That means it is current for every generation. If the Bible is doing what it should in your life, it will be like a two-edged sword. Swords are very motivating. If I said, "Move out of the way," you might say, "Why should I?" But, if I had a sharp two-edged sword, and I poked you with it, you would move out of the way without any argument.
It is tragic, but many people have a relationship with the Bible that does not move them. As a result, they are not very conscious of their need for God and His mercy in their lives. When God"s Word starts piercing and dividing asunder your soul and spirit, you are going to be motivated to go to God for help. When it begins to cut you, when it begins to reveal, as He says here in this verse, "the thoughts and intents of the heart," you see your need for mercy very clearly. Think about your thought life. Aren"t you glad there is not a little monitor where everyone can actually see and hear what you are thinking? When people are cut by the Word of God, it drives them to seek God"s mercy.
Do you seek God"s mercy today? It is available, my friend, for his mercies "are new every morning."
