Called to Community: Finding Motivation in God
Summary
God has always been in the business of calling His people to Himself, not just as individuals, but as a community with a purpose. From the earliest days, He reminded Israel that they were His treasured possession, a kingdom of priests, set apart to represent Him to the world. This calling is not just ancient history—it’s a living reality for us today. Each of us is invited to find our motivation in God, to let Him be the source that drives us, especially when our own strength and hope run dry. The Psalms teach us to bring our honest selves before God, to ask Him to show us His ways, and even to speak truth to our own souls when discouragement sets in.
But it’s not enough to simply seek motivation from God; we are also called to understand what motivates Him. When Moses asked to know God more deeply, God revealed Himself as compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, and forgiving. God’s motivation is restoration—shalom—the putting back together of all that is broken. He desires to forgive, to heal, and to make things right, but He also deals justly with persistent rebellion. This heart of God is not distant or theoretical; it is the very reason we can have hope and purpose in a world that often feels fractured.
As followers of Jesus, we are now called what Israel was meant to be: a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession. This is not a title reserved for a select few, but a mantle for every believer. To be a priest in the real world means to stand in the gap for others, to intercede, to bring God’s presence and blessing into our workplaces, schools, families, and neighborhoods. It may feel improbable or even impossible, but God is at work in us, shaping us day by day to be the special people He created us to be. Our next step is simply to say yes—to ask God for His motivation, to step into our calling, and to trust that He who began a good work in us will carry it to completion.
Key Takeaways
- True motivation is found in God, not in our own strength or fleeting desires. When we run out of energy or hope, the invitation is to go directly to God, asking Him to show us His ways and to fill us with His purpose. The Psalms model this honest dialogue, reminding us that it’s okay to speak to our own souls and to persistently seek God’s help, even when change feels slow or difficult. [07:07]
- God’s motivation is restoration—He is driven by compassion, grace, patience, and a desire to make things whole. When we understand that God’s heart is to forgive and to bring shalom, it changes how we see ourselves and the world. We are not left to guess at God’s intentions; He has revealed Himself as abounding in love and faithfulness, always ready to forgive those who turn to Him. [14:13]
- Our calling as a “kingdom of priests” is not just a theological idea, but a practical mission. Every believer is invited to stand in the gap for others, to intercede for our communities, workplaces, and families, and to be agents of God’s restoration wherever we go. This priestly role is not about perfection or special qualifications, but about willingness to say yes to God’s invitation. [27:54]
- The process of becoming the special people God created us to be is ongoing and unique for each person. Whether we feel like we’re just starting out or have been walking with Jesus for decades, God is at work in us, shaping us through every step of obedience. Our part is to keep taking the next step, trusting that God’s work in us is not finished and that He delights in our progress, not just our arrival. [31:42]
- Being a priest in the real world means bringing God’s presence into every sphere of life—praying for our workplaces, schools, and families, and investing in our church community. The impact of our faithfulness often extends far beyond what we can see, as God uses our service, prayers, and relationships to change lives and build His kingdom. The invitation is to invest ourselves fully, knowing that God brings a rich return on what we offer Him. [34:17]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[02:44] - What Motivates You?
[03:48] - God’s Pattern of Motivation
[05:22] - The Power of Remembering
[05:58] - Finding Motivation in God
[07:07] - Speaking Truth to Our Souls
[08:56] - Persevering When Motivation Fades
[11:18] - Israel’s Calling and Our Calling
[12:21] - Moses’ Honest Conversation with God
[14:13] - Discovering What Motivates God
[17:47] - God’s Self-Description: Compassion and Grace
[19:53] - God’s Justice and Forgiveness
[24:25] - Our Mission: Restoration
[26:44] - A Royal Priesthood: Our Identity
[27:54] - The Priesthood of All Believers
[30:10] - Standing in the Gap
[31:42] - God’s Ongoing Work in Us
[33:06] - What’s Your Next Step?
[34:17] - Being a Priest in the Real World
[35:38] - Investing in the Next Generation
[36:22] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide
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### Bible Reading
- Exodus 19:4-6
“You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
- Exodus 34:5-7
“Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’”
- 1 Peter 2:9
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
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### Observation Questions
1. In Exodus 19:4-6, what does God say is the purpose for calling Israel His “treasured possession” and a “kingdom of priests”?
2. According to Exodus 34:5-7, how does God describe Himself when He reveals His character to Moses?
3. In 1 Peter 2:9, what titles does Peter use for believers, and what is the purpose he gives for these titles?
4. The sermon mentions that the Psalms model honest conversations with God, including speaking truth to our own souls. What are some examples from the sermon of how this looks in practice? [07:07]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean for God’s motivation to be “restoration” or “shalom,” and how does this shape the way we understand His actions in the world? [23:00]
2. The sermon says that being a “kingdom of priests” is not just for a select few, but for every believer. How does this challenge or affirm your understanding of your own role in God’s mission? [27:54]
3. When God describes Himself as “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,” what does this reveal about how He wants to relate to us, especially when we fail or feel discouraged? [17:47]
4. The sermon talks about the process of God shaping us into His special people being ongoing and unique for each person. How does this perspective affect the way we view our spiritual growth and the growth of others? [31:42]
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### Application Questions
1. The Psalms show us it’s okay to bring our honest feelings to God and even “speak truth to our own souls.” When was the last time you did this? What would it look like for you to start this practice, especially when you feel unmotivated or discouraged? [07:07]
2. The sermon says true motivation is found in God, not in our own strength. What is one area of your life where you feel your motivation or hope is running low? How can you invite God to be your source in that area this week? [05:58]
3. God’s heart is to restore and forgive, but He also deals justly with persistent rebellion. Is there a place in your life where you need to ask for God’s forgiveness or help to change direction? What’s holding you back from doing that? [21:03]
4. As a “royal priesthood,” every believer is called to stand in the gap for others. Who is one person, group, or place (workplace, school, family, neighborhood) where you sense God might be inviting you to pray or intercede? What is one step you can take this week to do that? [30:10]
5. The sermon challenges us to invest ourselves fully in our church and community, trusting God to use our service and prayers. What is one practical way you can invest in your church family or serve someone this month? [34:17]
6. The process of becoming who God created us to be is ongoing. Where do you see God at work in your life right now, even if it feels slow or small? How can you celebrate or share that progress with someone else? [31:42]
7. The sermon ends by asking, “What is your next step?” What do you sense God is inviting you to say “yes” to in this season? How can your small group support you in taking that step? [33:06]
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Devotional
Day 1: Find Your Motivation in God
True motivation is found by seeking God and His ways.
When life feels overwhelming or motivation is running low, the Psalms remind us to turn to God as the source of our hope and drive. The psalmist models a posture of asking God to reveal His ways, to teach and guide, and to fill us with the motivation we need to keep going. This is not a passive waiting, but an active seeking—coming before God honestly, asking Him to be everything we need, and reminding ourselves of His promises. Even when our feelings don’t immediately change, we persist in telling our souls to hope in God, trusting that He will renew us and give us purpose for each day. [07:40]
Psalm 25:4-5 (ESV)
"Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel unmotivated or weary? Take a moment today to ask God directly to fill you with His motivation and show you His way in that area.
Day 2: Discover What Motivates God
Understanding God’s heart reveals His motivation for compassion and restoration.
God is not distant or arbitrary in His actions; He reveals His character and motivation to us. When Moses asked to know God more deeply, God described Himself as compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, and forgiving. God’s motivation is to bring shalom—restoration and wholeness—to a broken world. He desires to forgive and to extend love to a thousand generations, but He also deals justly with persistent wrongdoing. Knowing what motivates God helps us trust Him more deeply and align our own hearts with His purposes. [16:34]
Exodus 34:5-7 (ESV)
"The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, 'The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.'"
Reflection: In what ways does knowing God’s motivation for compassion and restoration change how you view your own struggles or the brokenness around you?
Day 3: Embrace Your Identity as God’s Special People
You are chosen to be a royal priesthood and God’s treasured possession.
God’s desire from the beginning was to have a people who are His own, a kingdom of priests who represent Him to the world. Through Jesus, this promise is fulfilled in the church—you are now God’s special possession, called to declare His praises and bring light into darkness. This identity is not reserved for a select few, but for every follower of Jesus. With this privilege comes the responsibility to live as priests, standing in the gap for others and carrying God’s presence into every sphere of life. [26:44]
1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)
"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."
Reflection: Where in your daily life do you need to remember that you are God’s special possession, chosen to bring His light and love to others?
Day 4: Stand in the Gap as Priests for the World
Every believer is called to intercede and serve as God’s priest in the real world.
Being a priest is not just for pastors or leaders—it is the calling of every Christian. As priests, we are invited to intercede for our families, workplaces, schools, and communities, asking God to move and bring His kingdom. This can feel improbable or uncomfortable, but God equips us step by step. Whether it’s praying for a coworker, blessing your school, or serving in your church, your willingness to stand in the gap can change lives and bring God’s restoration to places of need. [30:10]
Ezekiel 22:30 (ESV)
"And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none."
Reflection: Who is one person or place God is prompting you to intercede for today? How can you stand in the gap for them in prayer or action?
Day 5: Take Your Next Step Toward God’s Motivation
Sanctification is a journey—say yes to God’s work in you today.
No matter where you are in your walk with Jesus, God is continually shaping you to be the special person He created you to be. This process, called sanctification, happens one step at a time as you say yes to God’s invitation and allow His motivation to become your own. Don’t be discouraged by how far you have to go; instead, focus on your next step. Ask God what He is calling you to do today, and trust that He is faithful to complete the good work He began in you. [33:06]
Philippians 1:6 (ESV)
"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."
Reflection: What is one specific next step you sense God inviting you to take in your journey with Him? Will you say yes to Him today?
Quotes
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