Motivation Inspection

If you are a Christian, probe the deep recesses of your heart and determine what’s motivating you to follow Jesus. What’s driving you? Is it fear? Fear has undoubtedly turned many people from their sinful ways. The thought of “the wrath to come” (1 Thess. 1:10) has a way of humbling the proudest of people (cf. Rom. 5:9; 2 Cor. 5:10-11). Nevertheless, while we should maintain a healthy reverence for God throughout our lives (1 Pet. 1:17), I don’t believe that fear should remain our primary motivation. I contend there is something that is more powerful than fear. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples more than one time. On the third occasion, we find Jesus having breakfast with them (John 21:12-14). After they had stuffed themselves, Jesus took the opportunity to ask Peter a series of important questions. Interestingly enough, the questions were essentially all the same: ”Simon,…