What motivated Jesus #1

I was at Starbucks today grabbing a short coffee and doing some work. And I have the Starbucks app on my phone. You can buy gift cards and send them to friends and of those cards, you get to choose from some 25 options. One of those cards says, "Thanks for serving."

When someone joins the military, rarely does someone say, "If you do that you'll never be able to do what you want to do." Instead we find it quite honorable when someone gives themselves to something beyond themselves. In fact, we are repulsed when someone has a goal to make lots of money or attain power and are willing to do whatever it takes even if it means the exploitation of others.

When we say Jesus lived to do the Father's will, we can respond in two ways. First, we might think, "What a churchy way to live. What small vision. Live for something bigger." Of course, if we understand just who the Father is, we realize there is actually nothing bigger to live for. Within the Father's will is the salvation of all people, caring for the poor and the orphan and the downtrodden, loving our neighbor, doing right, and causing justice. The second response, then, when we say Jesus lived to do the Father's will, should be, "Wow! There is nothing greater! How noble! How honorable! What a calling!"