{"id":2681,"date":"2018-04-27T23:59:24","date_gmt":"2018-04-27T23:59:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/kpyohannan\/?p=2681"},"modified":"2018-06-13T20:47:53","modified_gmt":"2018-06-13T20:47:53","slug":"is-pleasing-god-the-compelling-motivation-of-your-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/kpyohannan\/2018\/04\/is-pleasing-god-the-compelling-motivation-of-your-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Pleasing God the Compelling Motivation of Your Life?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>
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When we have received a call from the Lord, our lives will bear the <\/span>wonderful <\/span>fruit of it\u2014the fruit of assurance, ownership, pure motivation and seeking only the Lord\u2019s approval.<\/span><\/p>\n

Assurance<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

When you know God has called you, you walk in that assurance. No person or difficulty can deter you or make you turn back. You are certain that He who called you will be faithful.<\/span><\/p>\n

Consider Joseph as one example. He stayed assured of the promise of God even when his brothers threw him into the pit and sold him to the Egyptians. He ended up in the dungeon and many years were lost, but nonetheless, nothing could stop his brothers from bowing down to him as prime minister of Egypt for 43 years! <\/span><\/p>\n

Why?<\/span> Because the Lord had placed that call upon his life!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Is<\/a><\/p>\n

Ownership<\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Not only is there that absolute assurance in the life of one called by God, but there is a sense of personal ownership as well. The difference between someone who is called and someone who does something because it is a profession is this s<\/span>ense of ownership over the work<\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\n

The one who is called says, <\/span>\u201c<\/span>It is my Jesus\u2019 work<\/span>, so i<\/span>t is my burden<\/span> also<\/span>. If I receive some kind of financial help, that\u2019s great. If I do not, no problem. I don\u2019t care. I will do it anyway.\u201d <\/span>It is the call that gives you the motivation to journey on. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Salary and benefits do not compel you; difficulties do not sway you. <\/span>The knowledge that God is faithful and that He has called you is enough.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Pure Motivation<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Those who know they are called serve because of the <\/em><\/span>knowledge<\/em> of that calling<\/span>, not because of the benefits they may be able to receive in the ministry or because of the salary they are provided. If your salary were stopped and your benefits discontinued or if nobody encouraged you through the provision of material things, <\/span>what would your response be?<\/span><\/p>\n

When we are motivated by the knowledge of our calling, it also affects our <\/span>personal lives<\/span><\/strong> and our <\/span>relationships<\/span><\/strong> with those we serve with. Oftentimes, \u201cthe ministry\u201d is marked by bickering, murmuring, jealousy, arrogance, comparison of self with others and internal strife. Hundreds of workers are destroyed along the way because they rationalize and justify that kind of behavior. The character of such a workman is fallen and flawed, seeking and motivated by something other than the calling of God. <\/span><\/p>\n

The person who knows he is called by the Lord acts differently.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Lord\u2019<\/span>s A<\/span><\/strong>pproval<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n

The person who knows he has been called by the Lord for the work of the ministry seeks only the\u00a0<\/span>Lord\u2019s approval in all the work he does. In 2 Timothy 1:3<\/span> (TLB)<\/span>, Paul says, <\/span>\u201cMy only purpose in life is to please him.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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