What motivates us?

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you have had to help another person? Maybe someone has had a fall and you were the closest person or maybe you were with someone when they received some bad news. For most people, an immediate response will be to reach out and help. A hug or a touch of comfort to a distressed person is usually our first response.

It is the same in our Christian life. We need to respond to the needs around us in the same way Jesus did; with one of love and compassion. Many people do not respond because they believe they are not skilled or trained to be of any assistance. As believers, we must not let our degree of skill or training be our motivator. Love and compassion must come first. Otherwise, every opportunity that God provides for us will be thwarted. We won't witness, share the gospel or pray for someone because we are not fully trained.

I am not saying that we don't need to develop our ministry skills but as we reach out to others in love, we soon realise that we can help more if we develop more skills. In the Christian life, we should initially step out in God's love and then develop our skills, not visa versa.

Roy Barrett
Lead Pastor, Peninsula Vineyard