I wish I could take credit for this one

So, here we are on the 12th day of February.  How has the journy of 2011 been for you few but faithful readers.  (or maybe you're just bored and read this, I don't know, either way...)  Anyways, I've never been one that was big on news years resolutions, but this year, well I felt differently about it and I actually made two.

1.  Eat smarter and find some kind of way to get more excercise  (I tried the gym thing but with a youth ministry schedule, it's hard to find enough time to do a whole gym routine).  Anyways, this one is slowly coming along but it's getting there......

2.  Rebuild the personal devotional life.  Here I am, a guy who works for the church, and I haven't had a solid/consistant personal devotion time since college.  Pretty said isn't it.  Well, that was my goal, to have just a few minutes every morning spending time with God.  So far it's been great, I haven't missed on yet :)  In fact, I find myself again wishing there was more and looking into joining a young adult BSF or something similar to that.  (heres hoping it can work out somehow)  Anywasy, when it comes to devo's I've been going through a book I picked up recently called  "Pause for Power"  written by Warren Wiersbe  (If you haven't read his book "On being a Servant of God"  I highly recommend it)  Anyways, His devo for today really kind of struck me so I wanted to share that with you today.  I'm actually typing it out so hopefully I don't make any mistakes.  Anyways....

                                     Motives for Obdience.

1 John 2

 ¹ My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. ² He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. ³ We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. ⁴ Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. ⁵ But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: ⁶ Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

Obedience to God's Word is proof of our love for Him.  There are three motives for obedience.  We can obey because we have to, because we need to, or because we want to.

Slaves obey because they have to.  If they don't obey, they will be punished.  Employees obey because they need to.  They may not enjoy their work, but they do enjoy getting their paychecks!  They need to obey because they have a family to feed and clothe.  But Christian are to obey their heavenly Father because they want to - for the relationship between them and God is one of love:  "If you love me, you will obey what I command"  (John 14:15)

This is the way we learned obedience when we were children.  First, we obeyed because we had to.  If we didn't obey, we were punished!  But as we grew up, we discovered that obedience meant enjoyment and reward, so we started obeying because it met certain needs in our lives.  And it was a mark of real maturity when we started obeying because of love.

"Baby Christians" must be constantly be warned or rewarded.  Mature Christians listen to God's Word and obey it simply because they love him.

Something to Ponder:  What are some of God's command you obey primarily out of obligation?  Which do you obey because of the benefits you receive?  Are there any you obey out of sheer love?

All good thoughts and questions I think to revisit on a weekly (if not daily) basis.