Week 2: Ministry

The Heart of Motivation

The motivation for ministry matters to Jesus. Jesus is always interested in the heart-level factors of life. As we are being formed into his ministry, we must remember that we become more than just his hands. We also become his heart.

The heart matters to Jesus. What motivates us matters to Jesus, and he knows the source of our motivation. In today's passage, you see a contrast between the heart-level motivation in two different ways to follow Jesus. On the one hand, you see his divisive disciples squabbling over power positions in the kingdom of God. God will humble them. They will learn his heart… eventually.

In this passage, though, they squabble over who gets to sit at the left and right hand of Jesus in his kingdom. Later they brag about silencing a non-follower of Jesus who's calling out demons in Jesus' name. In both circumstances, Jesus shuts down the conversation. Their motivation is wrong. They are more interested in games of power and control than in learning the way of peace and freedom.

On the other hand, we see the most unexpected example of a true heart-motivated disciple. Jesus doesn't point to the religious elite, the pious zealot, or the political radical. Instead, he calls to himself the bottom rung of power and control in the Roman world: a humble child.

My daughter once had superhero day at her preschool. The students all got to dress up like superheroes. The catch was that they couldn't be a known superhero. Instead, they had to make up their own superhero. After much thought centered around mostly weird amalgamations of different aquatic and terranean creatures, my daughter finally settled on "helper girl." What was her superpower? She was able to help anyone at any time!

Her costume resembled super woman’s costume except with cleaning supplies and fix-it equipment. It was essentially the cutest thing I've ever seen in my life. Right before she left for school, I asked her, " why do you want to be a helper girl?"

She replied, "I want to help people who need help."

I think this gets at the heart of Jesus. God takes on flesh and lives among us for our help. There is no selfishness in his heart. There is no craving for control. He is not motivated by power. So he points to a child and reminds us what a Gospel formed heart looks like when motivated by God's heart. That's why when we offer service, a cup of cold water, we do so in Jesus' name. The ones who carry his name carry his heart. The ones who have his heart bring his motivation. So it is the same when we receive a cup of cold water in the name of Jesus. For children, it is as easy to serve selflessly as it is to receive selflessly.

What motivates your discipleship to Jesus?

Where is your heart when you carry the name of Jesus?