MOTIVATED BY FRUSTRATION

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”  (Proverbs 31:8-9 NIV)

Sometimes people in Scripture get motivated to trust God in remarkable ways when they grow frustrated with the brokenness of a fallen world.

Nehemiah could not tolerate the idea of Jerusalem being in ruins. He was moved to risk a king’s displeasure and lethal opposition to rally God’s people.

David could not tolerate a pagan Philistine giant taunting the God of Israel. He was moved to risk his life in the name of his God.

Elijah could not tolerate the barbaric practice of pagan idolatry. He was moved to take on all the prophets of Baal single-handedly.

Even in the world today, it is often at the point where we are frustrated by the gap between the fallen reality and our sense of God’s desires that we are moved to action in a cause greater than ourselves…

Maybe God is calling you to trust Him at some point of frustration in your life. Trust Him. No one ever regretted trusting Christ more -- ever. 

-- John Ortberg in “If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat” 

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THE FIRES OF ENTHUSIASM

“As servants of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do,...”  (Ephesians 6:6b-8a)

Vince Lombardi, legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers, once told his players, "If you are not fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired -- with enthusiasm!" Nothing of substance can be accomplished without enthusiasm…

In the community of believers, people are motivated in different ways. It is a challenge for leadership to know how to kindle enthusiasm and maintain it… Wise leaders know how to keep the fires of enthusiasm burning while avoiding burning people out with exhaustion.

-- Stuart Briscoe in “Daily Study Bible for Men” 

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THE VALUE OF GOOD WORKS

"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:4-10 NKJV)

A Christian should always remember that the value of his good works is not based on their number and excellence, but on the love of God which prompts him to do these things.

-- St. John of the Cross (1542-1591)


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OUR ONLY BUSINESS

Our only business is to love God, and delight ourselves in Him. All kinds of disciplines, no matter how rugged, are quite useless if not motivated by love for God.

-- Brother Lawrence in The Practice of the Presence of God

 
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GETTING THE MOMENTUM GOING

The common conception is that motivation leads to action, but the reverse is true -- action precedes motivation. You have to 'prime the pump' and get the juice flowing, which motivates you to work on your goals. Getting momentum going is the most difficult part of the job, and often taking the first step is enough to prompt you to make the best of your day.

-- Robert J. McKain


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