1 Samuel 12:24 (NKJV)
“Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.”

Motivation is the engine that moves the soul to action. If a man loses motivation, he loses mobility for everything. We move and act in certain ways, based on what motivates us. In the same way, following God requires motivation. People don’t just follow for no reason.

Here, Samuel gives a great reason why the people should follow the Lord. He says, “Consider the great things He has done for you.” Powerful. He invites the people to fear the Lord and serve Him, not out of blind obedience, but because of what God has been to them. We serve God because He has been good to us.

Different religious systems force people to follow using different motivational parameters. Some use the fear of hell, a vision of a beautiful paradise, or both. But these are not reasons why we follow our Lord. We follow Him because we have seen and tasted His goodness. We follow because we know the goodness of God.

Basic psychology teaches us that most people are drawn to goodness. Dictators exercise control because they lack the power to compel followership without force. Our God is not a dictator. Some evangelistic strategies focus too heavily on creating fear. This is not God’s way. God woos us by His love and goodness.

When things get tough, and the road seems unclear, remember His unfailing love. Over 40 times, the Bible gives hope by repeatedly stating this fact, “His mercy endures forever.” It’s stated 26 times in Psalm 136 alone!! Why this strong emphasis? It’s to remind us of God’s goodness and mercy, irrespective of today’s reality.

We are built to follow. Let’s serve Him in truth with all our hearts, not out of fear, but in godly reverence. We revere Him because of His constant love for us. If this God did not spare His only Son for us, out of love, how can we not worship and serve Him. Love is more potent than fear. Love outlasts fear. We follow because of love.