MOTIVATION TO GO TO ACTION
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. About Laziness
a) Most of us can identify with at least a little bit of laziness in ourselves. There is nothing wrong with taking some “down time,” relaxing after a long day, using the time to recharge and reflect on the day. But when we know that we should be someplace else, doing something, maybe we get a prompting from the Spirit to carry out a task, but we remain where we are in idleness or indifference and ignore the urges, that is when we need the exhortation, “Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise …”
b) There might be various reasons for our inactivity and we might have different incapabilities that limit our ability to go to action. But God knows how much we can bear. He will not give us a task we cannot handle. There is a difference between understanding our own limits and underestimating what God can do through us – if we are willing!
c) Commit some of these Bible verses about laziness to memory so that the next time you are tempted to remain idle on the couch when you know that there could be a better use of your time – when you are wrestling between “comfort for your flesh” or “stepping out of your comfort zone” – you can use these verses as a weapon against laziness – a sin that has stolen enough precious time from people throughout the ages!
2. Motivation To Go To Action
a) Romans 6:11-14
“Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”
i) Reckoning ourselves dead to sin is a decision we make – our bodies will no longer be used to serve sin! We remind ourselves of this decision when we are tempted. This decision has nothing to do with our feelings!
b) Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
c) Hebrews 3:15
“Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
d) 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”
1. About Lazinessa) Most of us can identify with at least a little bit of laziness in ourselves. There is nothing wrong with taking some “down time,” relaxing after a long day, using the time to recharge and reflect on the day. But when we know that we should be someplace else, doing something, maybe we get a prompting from the Spirit to carry out a task, but we remain where we are in idleness or indifference and ignore the urges, that is when we need the exhortation, “Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise …”
b) There might be various reasons for our inactivity and we might have different incapabilities that limit our ability to go to action. But God knows how much we can bear. He will not give us a task we cannot handle. There is a difference between understanding our own limits and underestimating what God can do through us – if we are willing!
c) Commit some of these Bible verses about laziness to memory so that the next time you are tempted to remain idle on the couch when you know that there could be a better use of your time – when you are wrestling between “comfort for your flesh” or “stepping out of your comfort zone” – you can use these verses as a weapon against laziness – a sin that has stolen enough precious time from people throughout the ages!
2. Motivation To Go To Action
a) Romans 6:11-14
“Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”
i) Reckoning ourselves dead to sin is a decision we make – our bodies will no longer be used to serve sin! We remind ourselves of this decision when we are tempted. This decision has nothing to do with our feelings!
b) Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
c) Hebrews 3:15
“Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
d) 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”
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