Today’s newsletter stems from a message I recently preached on godly friendships. One of the points was that godly friendships are motivated by love. I was looking at a beautiful friendship in the Bible and saw that these friends loved each other well from the overflow of their love of the Lord. As you all know, I have learned to let the Bible “read me” as I read it. I was really challenged by the thought of everything I do being motivated by love for the Lord. It reminded me of Colossians 3:17
“And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
This verse tells us that all we do should be from a posture of love fueled obedience to the Lord. I wish I could say that was my posture with everything but aaaaah naw! As a matter of fact this thought made me reflect on my upbringing. The way that I interpreted and processed my upbringing made me feel responsible for everything and everyone. I’ve carried that weight around my whole life. Naturally it would affect my relationship with God, people and everything else in good and bad ways. My motivation was that I had to do it or NEEDED to do it because in my mind it wouldn’t get done because NO ONE ELSE cared about ANYTHING! Dramatic! I know! It made me struggle at receiving well from the Lord and others. It also set a very unwanted “thing” in my relationships. People assumed I knew everything and needed nothing. It also affected my pastoring in unhealthy ways. I wanted to be there for everyone in everything but all from wanting to be seen as a good leader and ended up not setting healthy boundaries. All of these examples showed that my motivation was a lot of other stuff than love as God desires.
I believe when real love is the motivation it causes you to be selfless and really think about what best benefits the other person than making yourself “feel good” or check off some Christian duties checklist. It also tells you when NOT to act.
Good News! We won’t be motivated by love perfectly and can’t in our own strength. I know a man named Jesus who was purely and perfectly not only motivated by love but is the essence of love! The love he had for us led to a bloody brutal cross. It didn’t end there through! He bodily defeated death and rose again!!! He’s alive!! It’s amazing to know that same power that raised him from the dead lives in us and empowers and fuels our obedience to him!!! You can be motivated by love as you receive the love of Jesus and let it move you to action in different areas of your life.
I pray this post ushers you to prayer so God can search your heart as he constantly does mine.
Love yall
Until Next Time
Demetrius
So proud of you! I am blessed to call you brother/friend! Love you!