A Christian's Motivation

Many people misunderstand why members of the church of Christ do what we do. They sometimes accuse us of being overly strict, of adding rules, or of caring more about regulations than about faith. The truth is far simpler and far deeper. Our motivation is to honor the authority of God. We are driven by love for Christ, respect for His majesty, humility before His wisdom, gratitude for His sacrifice, and trust in His promises. A Christian who seeks God’s will does so with the confidence that the Father’s wisdom is always for his good.

Love and Respect

Jesus made it very clear in John 14:15: “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” Love for Christ is made real when it is expressed through obedience. Just as a child demonstrates his love for a parent by listening and doing what he is told, so Christians show love for Christ by keeping His word. Solomon reached the same conclusion when he wrote, “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Reverence for God stands at the very center of life and is the duty of every person. To love and respect God is to take His word seriously, to treat His instructions as sacred, and to seek to follow them in every way.

Humility and Gratitude

Another part of our motivation is humility. James 4:6–7 tells us that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Pride leads us to lean on our own wisdom, but humility teaches us to listen to God. A humble heart recognizes that the Creator knows more than the created. Alongside humility is gratitude. Romans 5:8 says, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” If Christ gave His life for me when I did not deserve it, how can I respond with anything less than a life of obedience and devotion? Gratitude compels action. Obedience becomes the natural response to the overwhelming sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Honoring God’s Way

Colossians 3:17 reminds us that “whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” That is our aim. Every action, every decision, every act of worship must honor Him. Proverbs 3:5–6 strengthens this point: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Obedience means placing our lives in the care of the One whose wisdom is perfect. When we trust His word, we walk the path He has set before us with confidence and peace.

Only the Father’s Will

Jesus declared in Matthew 7:21: “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Calling Him Lord is not enough. Offering words without action is not enough. The one who enters the kingdom is the one who submits to the Father’s will. Jesus warned against the danger of human traditions: “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9; Mark 7:7). Paul described such practices as “will worship” in Colossians 2:23 — self-made religion that may look wise but has no value before God. Romans 10:3 explains the same failure: Israel went about to establish their own righteousness instead of submitting to God’s.This thread runs through all of scripture: God must be obeyed. His will alone is the standard. Any attempt to add to it or to substitute our own rules turns people away from Him.

Illustration: Parent and Child

Consider the relationship of a parent and child. Parents give their children rules out of love, not cruelty. A father warns his child not to talk to strangers, not to run into the street, and to stay nearby. These commands are given out of love, with the purpose of guarding the child’s well-being and preserving life. The child may not understand the reason, but the father knows. The rules are given for the child’s good. In the same way, God’s instructions are for our blessing. His guidance is always in our best interest. Like any loving Father, God seeks our good.

There is also nothing more heartbreaking than a child who openly rebels. A disobedient child brings shame and grief to his parents. Yet an obedient child honors his parents. His obedience is proof of love and respect. It is the outward sign of a heart that trusts. When we obey our heavenly Father, we glorify Him. Our obedience shows that our love is genuine, and that our respect is real. True love and respect lead to obedience.

Our obedience also points others to God. It is our way of showing the world that we live for Him, that we honor Him, and that we trust Him above all else. Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” The way we live becomes a reflection of the God we serve. The world may never open a Bible, but they will watch how Christians behave. When they see our humility, our devotion, and our consistency, they are given a glimpse of the Father.

Paul echoed this when he wrote in Philippians 2:14–15, “Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.” A Christian’s conduct sets him apart. Obedience makes us shine like lights in a dark world. It is how others recognize us as children of God.

Peter taught the same truth in 1 Peter 2:12: “Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.” Even when the world misunderstands us, our faithfulness plants a seed. Obedience becomes a testimony. Through our behavior, people can see the holiness and goodness of God. The world can see God through us and how we behave.

The Wise and Foolish Builders

Jesus illustrated this in the parable of the wise and foolish builders (Matthew 7:24–27). The wise man heard the words of the Lord and acted on them. He built his house upon a rock. The storms came, and the house stood firm. The foolish man also heard, but he chose another path. He built on sand, and when the storm came, his house collapsed. Both men heard the message, but only one obeyed. The difference was motivation and submission. The wise man trusted his Father’s will; the foolish man trusted his own.

Closing Thought

A Christian’s motivation is clear. We obey God out of love, reverence, humility, gratitude, and trust. We believe His wisdom is greater than ours. We know His commandments are for our good. Our obedience glorifies Him, honors His authority, and proves our love. True love and respect lead to obedience. And when we live this way, the world cannot help but take notice. Through our obedience, God is revealed to those around us.Sermon Outline
Introduction

• Misunderstandings about motivation
• Purpose: to honor God’s authority

I. Motivation of Love and Respect

• John 14:15 — love leads to obedience
• Ecclesiastes 12:13 — fear God and keep His commandments

II. Motivation of Humility and Gratitude

• James 4:6–7 — humility before God
• Romans 5:8 — gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice

III. Motivation to Honor God’s Way

• Colossians 3:17 — all things in His name
• Proverbs 3:5–6 — trust His wisdom

IV. Only the Father’s Will Brings Life

• Matthew 7:21 — only those who do His will enter heaven
• Matthew 15:9; Mark 7:7 — commandments of men lead to vain worship
• Colossians 2:23 — will worship has no value
• Romans 10:3 — establishing human righteousness rejects God’s

V. Illustration: Parent/Child Relationship

• A father’s rules protect and bless
• God’s word is for our benefit
• Disobedient children bring shame; obedient children bring honor
• Obedience to God shows love, glorifies Him, and points others to Him
• The world can see God through us and how we behave (Matthew 5:16; Philippians 2:14–15; 1 Peter 2:12)

VI. The Wise and Foolish Builders

• Matthew 7:24–27 — hearing and doing vs. hearing without doing
• One builds on rock; one on sand
• The difference is submission to God’s will

Conclusion

• A Christian’s motivation flows from love, respect, humility, gratitude, and trust
• God’s will is always for our good
• True love and respect lead to obedience
• Obedience is also a light to the world that points others to God

Call to Action
Examine your motivation. Do you follow God out of love and trust, or are you leaning on your own wisdom and traditions? God is a loving Father who always seeks your good. Honor Him with humble obedience, and let your life glorify Him through true love and respect. Let your light shine in such a way that others see God living in you.

Key Takeaways

• Love motivates obedience (John 14:15)
• Reverence is the central duty of life (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
• Gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice compels faithfulness (Romans 5:8)
• Only the Father’s will leads to life (Matthew 7:21)
• Commandments of men result in vain worship (Matthew 15:9; Mark 7:7)
• Will-worship has no value (Colossians 2:23)
• Establishing our own righteousness rejects God’s (Romans 10:3)
• True love and respect lead to obedience
• Obedience is also a witness that points others to God (Matthew 5:16; Philippians 2:14–15; 1 Peter 2:12)

Scripture Reference List

• John 14:15 — Love expressed in obedience
• Ecclesiastes 12:13 — Fear God and keep His commandments
• James 4:6–7 — Humility and submission
• Romans 5:8 — Christ’s sacrifice for sinners
• Colossians 3:17 — Do all in the name of the Lord
• Proverbs 3:5–6 — Trust in God’s wisdom
• Matthew 7:21 — Only those who do the Father’s will
• Matthew 15:9; Mark 7:7 — Vain worship from commandments of men
• Colossians 2:23 — Will worship without value
• Romans 10:3 — Establishing human righteousness
• Matthew 7:24–27 — Wise and foolish builders
• Matthew 5:16 — Let your light shine before men
• Philippians 2:14–15 — Shine as lights in the world
• 1 Peter 2:12 — Good works glorify God

Prepared by David Hersey of the church of Christ at Granby, MO