Hey, church, welcome to Amen podcast where we preach the good news of Jesus Christ and

how it applies to everyday life.

I'm looking on your host and I'm joined by my amazing husband, Alex.

He'll be preaching out of Matthew 6 verses 16 through 18 when the CSB version today.

So go ahead and get your Bibles if you have them.

He'll be preaching about motivation.

So what is your motivation for being a Christian?

Do you want the ethics, the benefits, the status, the culture, or do you want the king?

Well, today Alex will teach you how to have the right motivation to follow Jesus.

Let's read.

Whenever you fast, don't be gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces.

So their fasting is obvious to people.

Truly, I tell you they have their reward.

But when you fast put oil on your head and wash your face so that your fasting isn't

obvious to others, but to your father who is in secret.

And your father who sees in secret will reward you.

Amen.

Motivation is the reason for a person's entrance in heaven or departure into hell.

Motivation is like the fine line between heaven and hell.

And so knowing why we follow Jesus is of the most importance.

In today's culture, being a Christian is cool, following Jesus is cool.

And the early church, it wouldn't have been that way.

...