motivation, devotion …repeat

It’s risky and you might think less of me, but one of my favorite movie series growing up was Rocky, and best of all the Rocky’s (for me at least) was Rocky IV. Maybe it was Rocky’s training montage in Siberia, or his classic “Yo, Adrian!” yelling in the mic after fights. Maybe it was Drago’s pasty white skin, or when he says, “I must break you” before their fight in the ring, knowing full well Rocky was about to kick his hiney! It could have been the classic battle between East and West, or Rocky’s sweet sports car, or the great tunes that defined the entire movie series. Whatever it was, Rocky IV was one of my all-time favorite movies growing up.

The story line for Rocky IV is a grudge match between Rocky and the villainous Ivan Drago who has just killed Rocky’s friend and trainer, Apollo Creed in an exhibition match. Naturally, the odds are entirely not in favor of the aged Rocky in contrast to his younger and larger Russian opponent. But the training begins (along with the music!) and what drives Rocky to final victory is his personal motivation for revenge and the accompanying devotion to his training.

Fast forward my life 30 years and not a few more favorite movie series: I’m in process of developing a blog for spiritual formation, and I’ve just finished reading the classic book, The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Near the beginning of the book is a beautiful statement of faith and obedience:

For faith is only real when there is obedience, never without it, and faith only becomes faith in the act of obedience. Since, then, we cannot adequately speak of obedience as the consequence of faith, and since we must never forget the indissoluble unity of the two, we must place the one proposition that only he who believes is obedient alongside the other, that only he who is obedient believes (p. 64).

A good friend of mine always would say, “Belief determines behavior.” The assumption there, if you truly believe something then your life will show it by your actions. The two are logically linked. This is a good summary of Bonhoeffer’s quote (and maybe an adequate editorial for Rocky IV). Belief is the motivating factor that makes –or breaks– our behavior. It’s the fresh start due to that A.A. 12-step; it’s your paycheck for that 9 to 5. It’s the gym membership for that bowl of chocolate moose tracks ice cream with added peanut butter, homemade fudge sauce and frothy cool whip topping!

We believe, so we obey.

James describes this throughout his letter to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion. He writes, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22). The secret to being a disciple of Jesus is following after Him, responding to His call by a show of obedience. Simply put: Jesus calls, disciples follow. Ours is not an abstract religion of doctrinal systems for intellectual debate; instead, Christianity is a calling that results in going, doing, being. We’re called to obey Christ’s commands (and not adjust them per cultural norms), and this means laying aside every weight and sin which clings so closely and running with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2). In this way, the world will know we are His disciples by our selfless acts of agape-love for one another (John 13:35).

Our devotion to God is displayed through obedience to Him; our motivation for pleasing Him is our faith in Him. In endless cycle, faith and obedience guide and direct us as we journey into spiritual maturity, becoming His disciples and being shaped into His image by His Spirit.