There is no doubt in my mind that Simon Peter and his brother Andrew became the talk of all the fishermen around the lake of Galilee when they suddenly left their nets to respond to Jesus\u2019 call: \u201cFollow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men\u201d<\/em> (Mark 1:17).<\/span><\/p>\n We are greatly challenged by the willingness of these men to forsake all at a moment\u2019s notice to join a <\/span>new teacher whose ministry and future were unknown.<\/span><\/p>\n But <\/span>then we see a verse that shows us that<\/span> Peter and the other disciples were not so different from <\/span>you and me and <\/span>the rest of humanity. <\/span>Later on<\/span>, they inquired, \u201cSee, we have left all and followed You. <\/em><\/span>Therefore<\/span> what shall we have?\u201d<\/span><\/em> (Matthew 19:27).<\/span><\/p>\n No matter what we do in life, it\u2019s second nature<\/span> to ask the question: What do I get out of it?<\/span><\/p>\n When we apply for a job, we want to know the benefits. If we send our children to an expensive <\/span>school, we expect a certain quality of education in return.<\/span> <\/span>Even in spiritual things we often have this mindset.<\/span><\/p>\n A large number of<\/span> people come to Christ because they want to go to heaven instead of hell or because they want their<\/span> messed-up lives restored. And God is more than gracious to save and help them when they call upon His name.<\/span><\/p>\n Many believers who invest their lives, time or resources for a godly cause want to make sure that what they give will bring them something in return\u2014whether it\u2019s <\/span>joy, satisfaction, earthly blessings, recognition, honor from men, position or at least the guarantee of rewards in heaven.<\/span><\/p>\n If we are honest with <\/span>ourselves, so often self-centeredness is at the bottom of what we do<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n In our personal lives we seek to exchange the uncertain \u201cfollow Me\u201d <\/span>for something that seems more stable. We leave behind<\/span> <\/span>a burden or calling the Lord has given us to seek<\/span> something that guarantees security. Elisha\u2019s servant <\/span>Gehazi<\/span>\u2014who <\/span>went after<\/span> <\/span>selfish gain<\/span> (<\/span>see <\/span>2 Kings 5:20-27)\u2014<\/span>and <\/span>the Apostle Paul\u2019s coworker <\/span>Demas<\/span>\u2014who \u201cloved this present world\u201d<\/em> (see 2 Timothy 4:10)\u2014<\/span>both did<\/span> this.<\/span><\/p>\n Without us even realizing what <\/span>is happening<\/span>, our personal struggles and the question<\/span>,<\/span> \u201cWhat\u00a0<\/span>do I get out of it?\u201d take priority over <\/span>what the Lord has commanded us to do<\/span>. <\/span>We get sidelined when <\/span><\/strong>serving the Lord starts costing us something<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n But often, it\u2019s not <\/span>the <\/span>big <\/span>cost<\/span>s that pull us away from servin<\/span>g the Lord, <\/span>it\u2019s<\/span> the small costs:<\/span> little <\/span>squabbles, difficulties, discouragement and unfulfilled expectations. These ar<\/span>e some of the main reasons <\/span>that<\/span> people who start serving the Lord in some way<\/span>,<\/span> eventually end up <\/span>pull<\/span>ing<\/span> back from <\/span>that service.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n We worry and do so much to preserve our lives and make sure we will be okay<\/span>, <\/span>but <\/span>in reality, <\/span>there<\/span> is<\/span> <\/span>no<\/span> <\/span>reason for you and me to be anxious about what we will get out of <\/span>our service<\/span>. Our Lord has already promised to meet <\/span>all <\/span>our needs<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n So then, if we are not to be motivated by our own gain, where else can we find motivation? We <\/span>find it<\/span> in the same place Jesus found it.<\/span><\/p>\n Hebrews 12:2 tells<\/span> us, <\/span>\u201c<\/span>For the joy that was set before Him<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>[He] <\/span>endured the cross<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n Jesus saw beyond all His <\/span>impending suffering on the cross<\/span> to <\/span>\u201c<\/span>the joy set before Him<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span> And what was that joy? It was <\/span>you and me, and the life that we would have because of His death and resurrection<\/span>. That is what gave Him <\/span>t<\/span>he<\/span> motivat<\/span>ion<\/span> to go through with it.<\/span> He saw what <\/span>we <\/span>would gain, and He gladly gave His life out of love.<\/span><\/p>\n So<\/span> let us <\/span>turn our eyes to<\/span> Jesus, again and again, and see His <\/span>sacrificial love for you, His love for me<\/span>, and we will gladly give our lives for His sake, <\/span>and <\/span>for the sake of th<\/span>is<\/span> world that He loves.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n T<\/span>he Lord<\/span> remembers our labors on behalf of His kingdom: \u201cFor God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name\u201d<\/em> (Hebrews 6:10). <\/span>And <\/span>He tells us that whatever we have done to the least of His brothers, we have done to Him.<\/span><\/p>\n So<\/span> k<\/span>eep your hand to the plow<\/span>,<\/span> and don\u2019t look back. It is well worth it.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Listen <\/span>he<\/span>r<\/span>e<\/span><\/a> to a message by Dr. K<\/span>P Yohannan <\/span>about the grace the Lord gives us as we serve Him<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Click here<\/a>, to read more articles on Patheos by Dr. KP Yohannan Metropolitan.<\/p>\n Go here to know more about Dr. KP Yohannan: GoodReads<\/a> | Radio<\/a> | Amazon<\/a> | About<\/a><\/p>\n Gospel for Asia<\/strong> <\/span>has been serving the \u201cleast of these\u201d in Asia since its beginning in 1979, often in places where no one else is serving. GFA supports national workers who are serving as the hands and feet of Christ by ministering to people\u2019s needs so they can understand the love of God for them for the first time. Through GFA\u2019s Bridge of Hope Program, tens of thousands of c<\/span>hildren are being rescued from the generational curses of poverty and hopelessness.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" There is no doubt in my mind that Simon Peter and his brother Andrew became the talk of all the fishermen around the lake of Galilee when they suddenly left their nets to respond to Jesus\u2019 call: \u201cFollow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men\u201d (Mark 1:17). We are greatly challenged by […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3029,"featured_media":2579,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[5,7,4],"class_list":["post-2564","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-dr-kp-yohannan","tag-gfa","tag-kp-yohannan"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"Do](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/791\/2018\/04\/gfa-06-25-17-gospelforasia-CR.007.031.29-1024x682.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nA \u201cSpiritualized\u201d Self-centeredness<\/span><\/h3>\n
What Is the Right Source of Motivation<\/span>?<\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"Keep](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/791\/2018\/04\/So-keep-your-hand-to-the-plow-and-don%E2%80%99t-look-back.-It-is-well-worth-it.1.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nIt Is Worth It<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n