Motivated by Love

Motivated by Love

Many years ago, a beloved friend and pastor asked me, “David, what motivates you to serve the Lord?” After a moment’s reflection I answered, “Obedience. What motivates you?” My friend responded, “Love.”

My friend obviously had the higher motivation for service.

With Valentine’s Day approaching, many people are thinking and talking about love.

I have recently discovered that my own understanding of how love motivates me — as biblically centred as I strive to be — has been lacking. Going back to the conversation with my pastor friend, I assumed that when my friend spoke of love as his motivation for ministry, he meant his love for God. But look at 1 John 4:10: “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 Jn. 4:10).

Our love for God could not possibly motivate us unless He had first loved us. The best and most noble of human loves is still flawed. But our identity is rooted in the deep and abiding love our Creator has bestowed on us. The Almighty, the master of the universe made us in His own image and loves us. God’s love so motivated Him that He sent His one and only Son into the world to save us and give us brand new hearts that can return His love. His love never fails, and it provides joy and purpose for all we seek to do and be in His service.

It is the strength of God’s perfect love that empowers, delights, and sustains us. It is God’s love that makes our love what it should be: holy, just, and seeking the very best for the beloved.

I once met a woman who told me that she did not like Jews for Jesus, “Because,” she said “I want Jewish people to know that Christians love them. But all you want to do is evangelize them, which only makes Jewish people suspicious of my love.”

I am grateful for every Christian who shows love for my Jewish people. And yet, as I told this woman, I would rather see one Jewish person understand and receive God’s love than have a hundred Jewish people be impressed by my love. Yes, God often uses our love to point to His, but there is an eternal difference between what our love and His can do.

May the love of God bless you as you serve Him. We are forever grateful to you for helping us to share His gospel love with Jewish people around the world!

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