Discipling the Undisciplined no. 19

“And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:16-18). Motivation is important. And examining our own motivations is truly important. Why am I doing this? I ask myself that question a lot as a middle school teacher. Why am I doing this? I hope that answer is always that I am doing these things out of love. BUT often that was not the case in my life. I was really afraid not too long ago and I still get afraid now and then. 

Four years ago, the fear of government lockdowns and supply chain problems put fear into my heart. I was truly worried about feeding my family. Here I was talking about freedom and liberty and personal responsibility and I was a hypocrite. I was afraid because I wasn’t free or responsible. I had failed to get liberated. And that enslavement to the world led to fear of what the world had in store for me. So, that fear put me into fight mode and I was going to fix my hypocrisy. I was going to do something about it. 

In retrospect, that was God disrupting me. I needed a disruption. I had become complacent. I was living the life of a Pharisee. I was looking down my nose at other folks while my life was no more secure, free, or responsible than anyone else. And God smacked me right upside the life with the realization that I was full of shit. And it takes some humility to get yourself loaded on with that kind of reality. It’s heavy. BUT I had to come to terms with the reality. What was I doing? Well, I was not going to keep doing the same thing and expect different results. I needed to take that chance and make the change.

Motivation is the key. Sometimes we are motivated out of fear into greater things. Sometimes we are motivated out of love to do wonderful things. BUT we need our status quo disrupted. And Jesus came into the world and disrupted everything. He left the world a different place than when He arrived. He left us with love. He left us with faith. He left us with hope. Talk about a life motivated to answer the question correctly.

So, why am I doing this every morning? Why do I wake up and read and study the Bible? Why do I choose to fast and pray? Why do I choose personal responsibility and corporate accountability? Why do I choose to be part of His Church? What is my motivation for any of these things? Well, it is no longer fear. I am not afraid of what today will bring because I know God has got me. And I do not know much for certain BUT I do know that it is comforting to realize that God cares enough to get actively involved in my life. So, I care enough to get actively involved in His project.

Grace and Shalom to your home. 

#DisciplingTheUndisciplined #ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #SeekFirstTheKingdom #ServeOneAnotherInLove #NotMyWayYHWH