Stuck Going Through the Motions

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. 

Titus 2:11–14

Going through the motions is only going to get us so far.

But for many of us, going through the motions is what we know, what we’re comfortable with. The problem is that we may not feel invested.

There’s a big difference the bacon and eggs—not just because of the different animals they come from, but how they come. Pigs give their lives. God doesn’t just want us to go through the motions—he wants our hearts and minds.

Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.” (Matthew 22:35–38)

What Jesus said then applies to us today.

When we sing, we can get caught going through the motions. It’s not about “sounding nice,” it’s about the most important instrument we all have—the heart.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Colossians 3:16)

Singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord is going to manifest itself to others. Just think about it.

And when we pray together—we can definitely get caught going through the motions by not even paying attention. It’s about focusing on what is being said. I realize this can be challenging because with our eyes closed our minds may wander. So put in the effort to focus.

And when we consider the word of God together in a sermon—participate as much as you can by thinking through the things being presented. Many of my sermons are full of scripture reading. I do this on purpose because I want all of us to be presented with God’s way of thinking: his words, his mind.

Zeal means we really want to please our Lord and Savior in doing the things He has commanded us—not with a complaining heart, or a divided heart—distracted by thinking about all the things we feel we might be missing out on. If God showed us the zeal we show Him, where would we be?

Even in our giving, Paul urges us—

So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)

When Our Love Grows Weak

People are the worst.

There’s really no need ever for us to debate this because it’s true. I know there are times that it may seem worse than others, but it is always true that people are the worst. You don’t even have to wait for the headlines—people advertise against themselves and their disgusting thinking and activities on their own as they seek “likes” on TikTok and Instagram reels. There doesn’t seem to really be a depth to which people will go and then stop. They dig down into morally murky depths just a little further (if not a lot further).

Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:12–13)

But in all this I am reminded of God’s longsuffering toward us all. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. . . . And consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation” (2 Peter 3:9, 15). And every single day I am thankful God is longsuffering toward me. All this to say that we’re all sinful to the Lord: “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5; also read Isaiah 64:6) 

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:44–45, 48)

The Daily Battle to Trust

 Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. for he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.

Jeremiah 17:7–8

For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.

2 Peter 2:19

Many people trust their feelings above all else. Or they may trust their bank account. Or their health. But we know that all these are temporal and can change in the blink of an eye.

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. . . . For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. (2 Corinthians 4:16–18; 5:4–5)

God wants us to trust Him, and to trust Him completely (Psalm 33:21; Proverbs 3:5). “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And [Jesus] said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:36–37)

Ultimately, the benefit is our if we trust God who commands, and obey Him:

“Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” (Luke 17:7–10)

Again, it’s not a matter of merely keeping commands, although God’s commands are not burdensome nor grievous (1 John 5:2–3). God’s commands are for us to be transformed for the better (Romans 12:1–2; Ephesians 4:22–24). God’s commands bring us eternal life and, furthermore, profit us in the here and now, preparing us for eternity (1 Timothy 4:7–8; Ecclesiastes 12:13–14; Romans 8:18).

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward. (Psalm 19:7–11)

The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever. (Psalm 119:160)

Do we really trust God? Whether we actually do or not, it will show in how we choose to live (1 Timothy 5:24–25). “The one who conducts himself in integrity will live securely, but the one who behaves perversely will be found out.” (Proverbs 10:9 NET)

Satan is never going to give up on us—he’s always coming after us. This is why we are to be watchful in everything (Colossians 4:2; 1 Peter 5:8). This can be exhausting if we try to do this on our own. We need help, we need divine intervention:

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. . . . And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:26, 28)

One very important way that we show trust in God is in praying to Him: 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6–7)

Do we believe God will help us through difficult times? Do we believe that God will not forget us? For some, the answers to these questions may change daily. 

Even Jesus is said to put His trust in God (Hebrews 2:13).

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14)