Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 15: Total Surrender”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
What drives you?
The 2022 Winter Olympics have begun. While I haven’t watched much yet this year, there is always intrigue behind the story of the athletes. Often times in interviews, athletes will share why they got into the sport and what keeps them going. It could be the desire to be the top of their sport. I could be to honor a parent who has since passed away. It could be a competition with a fellow athlete to outdo each other. Whatever it is, the motivation is strong enough to sacrifice many other things to put in the time, energy and effort to practice and then compete at the highest level.
What motivates a Christian to fully commit to follow Jesus?
2 Corinthians 5:14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 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.
Christ’s love compels us.
One died for all.
Dying for someone is the ultimate sacrifice one can make for another.
John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
When we realize the “all in” that Jesus exhibited to orchestrate my forgiveness and salvation, it’s a compelling reason to give all of my life back to him.
Living for the Lord is both a “dying” and a “rising” reality.
We die to self. The sinful, selfish nature with which we are born and from which we naturally operate is the part of us that needs to be crucified, buried and left for dead. Our focus is no longer what WE can gain out of life or what WE can get from others, but rather is one in which we LIVE for the Lord and to serve the people around us. Following Jesus is a new life for us. It’s one that enjoys the reality of forgiveness, the joy of life, and the peace to know that what I go through is to be an eternal blessing for us.
Living for the Lord is our new purpose. It’s the driving reason we do what we do.
Just like I am sure Olympic athletes have days on which they don’t feel like practicing or competing, but then they remember their “Why.” With their “why” clearly in mind and heart, they go after it once again.
Our why in life is the love of Christ.
His love for us is immense. To follow him is what it compels us to do!
Apply: Think of what is on your agenda today. How can you make all you do today living for the Lord and others?
Prayer: Lord Jesus thank you for giving your all for me. It compels me to give my all back to you. Help me each day to do that! AMEN.