EPHESIANS 1:4c-5 – In love He predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will.”
THEME OF THE DAY: THE HIGHEST FORM OF MOTIVATION. When the alarm sounds in the morning or our own built-in clock awakens us to the dawning of a new day, what motivates us to get up and going? What prevents shutting down both alarms and just snuggling deeper into bed? I think there are at least three motivators. First would be “we have to” for the loud scream of responsibility cannot be silenced. Oh, it’s possible to silence this motivator, but not without cost and that produces the second motivator – consequences. If we don’t get going, obvious ramifications or consequences occur. As for the third motivator, I’m not convinced this one is widespread. Remember the 1937 Disney film, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”? One of the seven little guys bore the name “Happy”. I don’t care for that guy. Imagine being around him. Wakes up in the morning, without an alarm, no repeated snooze hits, jumps out of bed and the first words out of his grinning mouth shaking the silence, “Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to work I go” and then just continues along his merry way, happy all day! May I be honest? He makes me want to throw something at him. I haven’t been around too many of these types in my life. In fact, I don’t think any – someone who is always on the mountain, always happy along the way. Now if you are that person and wake up each day motivated like that, please set up an appointment with me. Not an appointment for pastoral care for you, but for me! This third type of motivation, the Happy dwarf motivator, has yet to capture me.
Now think for a moment about these motivators from a Christian perspective. Motivation to be responsible is Biblical. We have commands to obey. Motivation by consequence is also Biblical for we have a Day of Judgment. And motivation by joy, not like Happy the dwarf, is also Biblical. These provide direction for each day, but don’t we often lose steam in all three areas? Obedience lags, we don’t think about judgment day, and our joy ebbs and flows. Is there another motivator for us as Christians to enter each day giving us Godly purpose and sustainability? Yes. In one word – adoption. How does this provide motivation?
Let’s start with this profound truth – adoption means acceptance with God. My performance, good or bad, into the day before me doesn’t change my family status with God. I am motivated to live for His glory not to gain acceptance or favor, but because He has given me acceptance and favor! That is glorious freedom and powerful motivation! Secondly, adoption means security. My Creator/Redeemer says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). No event, person, or circumstance of the day regardless of the perceived difficulty, removes the security of being “in Christ” and access to Christ. One of the beauties of prayer is constant availability to the One who adopted us. I maintain a God motivated life because when I sense I am not, I may run to my Father and tell Him so, seeking His help to keep me on track with godly motivation. Thirdly, adoption means identity. If I wake up in the morning and my first thoughts are toward God, and particularly toward my relationship to Him by His act of adoption, I am immediately reminded of my identity. Thinking on our union with Christ and doing this often transforms us. It enables us to see the intimacy of our relationship and will motivate us to live out our identity. Finally, adoption means resources. John said of the Lord Jesus, “He gave the right or power to become children of God” (John 1:12). I don’t have to generate motivation to get up and going each day. Nor do I have to keep generating resources throughout the day to maintain proper motivation. My objective is to constantly remember and believe what Jesus said, “Without me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). This keeps me relying on adoption resources.
So, when the dawn breaks in the morning and the choice of motivation begins to churn in your mind, try directing your heart towards your adoption by God. You won’t be like “Happy”, one of the seven dwarfs. Instead, you will be a joy-filled child of the Lord Jesus and that is the highest form of motivation!
PRAYER: “Father, enable us to live out our already given position of being adopted into Your family!”
QUOTE: “There is no greater privilege and joy in life than to confidently say, ‘I am a child of God.’”
Because of Him,
Pastor Jim