Lesson 5: Walking by the Spirit: Motivation
Question 3
The believer’s motivation is the love of Christ, specifically His love for us as shown at the cross. As we wash at the cross and walk by the Spirit, this love begins to compel and control us and motivate us to live differently.
As you look at the cross just now, notice that Jesus refused to gratify His flesh, but instead, out of deep love for you, He sacrificed His body. He wore a crown of thorns for you, was pierced in His hands and feet for you, breathed out His last breath, and sacrificed His entire self for you. As He died in this way, He rejected the pleas of His flesh to get off the cross, and in passionate love for you with a desire to glorify God, He finished the work and rescued you from sin!
By looking at Jesus dying in this way, we can begin to experience the love He has for us, and His love will compel and motivate us to live differently. At the cross, the Holy Spirit starts to pour Jesus’ love into our hearts, and He makes this love very personal to us. “For we know how dearly God loves us because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love” (Romans 5:5 NLT).
Do you see how the love Jesus has for you can truly motivate you? Paul said, “The love of Christ compels us because we are convinced that one died for all. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them, and was raised again.” Look at the change this love makes! Look at the motivation it brings! Jesus loves us right out of our sin and into the new life of freedom that He purchased for us.
Think about this passage for a minute. As 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 NIV says, we used to “live for ourselves.” What a perfect description of my life as an overeater. It was selfish living. My motivation was to gratify my flesh, live for my wants, putting me and my body’s cravings ahead of everything else.
Question 3. How was living to gratify your flesh with food selfish living?
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