This is the question you should be asking yourself. Everyone should ask themselves that question. The answer to that question will determine whether we are marathon runners or sprinters. in the Kingdom
In other words, your motive for serving the King will determine how long you serve Him by following His laws and commands and how far you go. Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. Hebrews 12:1-3 Your faith in Him is key to your life in His Kingdom.
Keep in mind, your motive for serving the Lord God and King will produce a strong—or weak—faith in Him. The Lord God sees and knows all. So He knows your motives better than you do! Often we even deceive ourselves as to what our motive is. Do you recall what God’s representative, Hanani, stated to the King of Israel? For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9a
Your faith is strengthened in tests and trials. Taking the easy way, compromising what you believe and doing whatever necessary to avoid trials will not strengthen your faith. But to stand strong in the face of these tests and trials you must first know what you believe, what your true motive is for serving Him, and who King Jesus really is to you. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:2-8
Is your motive for serving King Jesus focused on yourself and what you want to receive? Do your “testimonies” consist of only the things He has given you or how He has blessed you? I am not saying that there is anything wrong with praising the Lord for His goodness and provision to you, but we are honestly looking at our motive for our commitment to the Father. If your faith is focused on what you want to receive from the Lord, ask yourself if your motive is selfish. Honestly search your heart. The Lord God wants your life to be fruitful and full of the fruit of the Spirit. He wants you to fulfill His purpose and assignment in your life. Without times of testing and trials, you will not grow and mature in God’s Kingdom. Anyone who has ever spent time in church has probably heard “God is good all the time; all the time God is good”. Yes the Lord God is good all the time, and in His goodness, He allows testing and trials for our growth…for our good, for our purpose! Christians with selfish—me focused—faith will often get angry at the Father when they don’t have their prayers answered or when bad things happen in life. Some even turn their back on the Lord God. I am certain we all can remember situations exactly like that!
What is it that drives you to believe and trust in the Lord God and His Son, King Jesus? Is it His Kingdom benefits being manifest in your life? Or is your motive focused on the Father and His Son Jesus? Do you meditate on how good the Father is and all that He has done? Do you only want to please Him and serve Him and fulfill His purpose for creating you? So, motive comes down to whether you focus on wanting the Father to please you, or for you to please the Father.
King David had a strong and powerful motive for serving His Lord and King. Oh that we all had his heart for the Father! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights!
Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts! Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all you stars of light! Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created.
He also established them forever and ever; He made a decree which shall not pass away. Praise the Lord from the earth. You great sea creatures and all the depths; Fire and hail, snow and clouds; Stormy wind, fulfilling His word; Mountains and all hills; Fruitful trees and all cedars; Beasts and all cattle; Creeping things and flying fowl; Kings of the earth and all peoples; Princes and all judges of the earth; Both young men and maidens; Old men and children.
Let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven. And He has exalted the horn of His people, the praise of all His saints—Of the children of Israel, A people near to Him. Praise the Lord! Psalm 148
Oh that we may all have his love and passion for our Lord and King! That is our motive for our praise.
There have always been many whose motive for serving King Jesus is for what they can receive. King Jesus made this statement concerning their motive for following Him:
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with Me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given Me the seal of His approval.”
They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?”
Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one He has sent.”
They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now He offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
“Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”
Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty. But you haven’t believed in Me even though you have seen me.” John 6:26-36 NLT
Your motive will ultimately determine how long you will walk with the King. Those with selfish motives will fall away when the testings come.
Once again, your faith in the King’s Word is your most powerful asset in the Kingdom.
All scriptures are NKJV unless noted
W.R. Luchie and D. Arlene Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you
In other words, your motive for serving the King will determine how long you serve Him by following His laws and commands and how far you go. Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. Hebrews 12:1-3 Your faith in Him is key to your life in His Kingdom.
Keep in mind, your motive for serving the Lord God and King will produce a strong—or weak—faith in Him. The Lord God sees and knows all. So He knows your motives better than you do! Often we even deceive ourselves as to what our motive is. Do you recall what God’s representative, Hanani, stated to the King of Israel? For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9a
Your faith is strengthened in tests and trials. Taking the easy way, compromising what you believe and doing whatever necessary to avoid trials will not strengthen your faith. But to stand strong in the face of these tests and trials you must first know what you believe, what your true motive is for serving Him, and who King Jesus really is to you. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:2-8
Is your motive for serving King Jesus focused on yourself and what you want to receive? Do your “testimonies” consist of only the things He has given you or how He has blessed you? I am not saying that there is anything wrong with praising the Lord for His goodness and provision to you, but we are honestly looking at our motive for our commitment to the Father. If your faith is focused on what you want to receive from the Lord, ask yourself if your motive is selfish. Honestly search your heart. The Lord God wants your life to be fruitful and full of the fruit of the Spirit. He wants you to fulfill His purpose and assignment in your life. Without times of testing and trials, you will not grow and mature in God’s Kingdom. Anyone who has ever spent time in church has probably heard “God is good all the time; all the time God is good”. Yes the Lord God is good all the time, and in His goodness, He allows testing and trials for our growth…for our good, for our purpose! Christians with selfish—me focused—faith will often get angry at the Father when they don’t have their prayers answered or when bad things happen in life. Some even turn their back on the Lord God. I am certain we all can remember situations exactly like that!
What is it that drives you to believe and trust in the Lord God and His Son, King Jesus? Is it His Kingdom benefits being manifest in your life? Or is your motive focused on the Father and His Son Jesus? Do you meditate on how good the Father is and all that He has done? Do you only want to please Him and serve Him and fulfill His purpose for creating you? So, motive comes down to whether you focus on wanting the Father to please you, or for you to please the Father.
King David had a strong and powerful motive for serving His Lord and King. Oh that we all had his heart for the Father! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights!
Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts! Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all you stars of light! Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created.
He also established them forever and ever; He made a decree which shall not pass away. Praise the Lord from the earth. You great sea creatures and all the depths; Fire and hail, snow and clouds; Stormy wind, fulfilling His word; Mountains and all hills; Fruitful trees and all cedars; Beasts and all cattle; Creeping things and flying fowl; Kings of the earth and all peoples; Princes and all judges of the earth; Both young men and maidens; Old men and children.
Let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven. And He has exalted the horn of His people, the praise of all His saints—Of the children of Israel, A people near to Him. Praise the Lord! Psalm 148
Oh that we may all have his love and passion for our Lord and King! That is our motive for our praise.
There have always been many whose motive for serving King Jesus is for what they can receive. King Jesus made this statement concerning their motive for following Him:
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with Me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given Me the seal of His approval.”
They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?”
Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one He has sent.”
They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now He offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
“Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”
Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty. But you haven’t believed in Me even though you have seen me.” John 6:26-36 NLT
Your motive will ultimately determine how long you will walk with the King. Those with selfish motives will fall away when the testings come.
Once again, your faith in the King’s Word is your most powerful asset in the Kingdom.
All scriptures are NKJV unless noted
W.R. Luchie and D. Arlene Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you
