Motivation Is Everything
It is easy to be motivated to do things we want. Many folks are eager to see a hockey game, but believe it or not, some aren’t hockey fans!
Compared to the many people who need little encouragement to see a hockey game, the number of folks highly motivated to attend church would seem significantly less. That is my opinion, with my hope people might be eager to participate in both events.
I understand reluctance about not wanting to go somewhere. Next week I have a dentist’s appointment, and I ‘m not eager to go. It’s something I need to do if I want to avoid toothaches and a toothless smile.
Life is full of decisions about the best course of action for us to follow. We need to balance out what is in our own best interest for today with our tomorrows, as well. As Christians, we need to consider who we will serve, God or ourselves.
The Last Sunday in Church Year is often celebrated as Christ the King Sunday. Those who do not consider themselves Christians are not concerned about serving Jesus as their King. Kings in the past had great power to promote or dispose of individuals. They were feared, honored, and respected because they held life and death in their hands.
When Christians speak of God’s love and blessings towards all people, they focus on the willingness of Jesus Christ, the very son of God, to sacrifice his righteousness for our sinfulness before God, His Father in heaven. Jesus died for all sinners. Since we all sin, there is forgiveness and new life with God for those who welcome it.
There has always been rejection and scorn for Jesus Christ. When they crucified Jesus on a cross with a criminal on his right and one on his left, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34). Religious rulers and soldiers scoffed at Jesus and mocked him dying on the cross. The rulers scoffed, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” (Luke 23:35) The soldiers mocked, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself.” (Luk23:37)
Of the two criminals crucified with Jesus, one doubted Jesus, and one believed Jesus was innocent of any crime and asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus came into his kingdom. Jesus promised the one who believed in him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
As Christians, we honor Jesus as our King, “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” (Colossians 1:19-20)
Jesus, our King, lives forever, but do we serve Him gladly? In the time of the prophet Malachi, many of God’s people were critical of God in their words and thoughts. They felt their efforts to keep the faith were pointless. They focused on prosperous evildoers thinking God wasn’t looking after the world as He should. They forgot only on Judgement Day will there be a clear distinction between the righteous and the wicked, those who serve God and those who don’t.
