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Ok, so we have begun to think of the marks of a disciple as commitments, and key to our transformation as disciples. And we have an idea of how these might look in our daily lives.

So we begin to think, “This commitment is a good thing. And if a little is good, more is better.” In the process we turn into the spiritual equivalent of Navy Seal wannabes.

This longer, faster, higher, harder approach can show up in a number of the commitments.

• Regularity in His Word? We will go well beyond “regular”. Our quiet times become extended, we read more chapters, journal more pages, memorize more verses, read more spiritual books on deeper topics.
• Self-denial becomes stoicism. No R-rated movies, TV, secular music, cards, or recreation on Sunday.
• Taking up our cross turns into a martyr complex and we begin to make comments that we know will provoke opposition, just so we can suffer for Jesus.
• Following Jesus morphs into an overt spiritual emphasis that permeates our life. We turn every conversation spiritual. Get involved in multiple Bible studies. Try every new spiritual discipline, always looking for a way to be “closer with Jesus.”
• Open-Handed Stewardship is measured in how much we give. The more we give, the more spiritual we are

Now, let me pause here to say that many of these can be legitimate expressions of our commitment to Christ. Most of these activities are not intrinsically bad. The problem lies in the motivation behind them. When the point shifts to “my commitment,” we become like the Pharisees and miss Christ’s heart (Matthew 9:13; 12:7).

So, what is the root of the problem. Well, you will notice that the list above focuses on commitments 2-6. In my experience, we tend to gravitate to these areas. Why? Because they are things we “do”.  And we know how to “do.”

But this “loving Jesus,” that’s a little more obscure. We’re not sure quite how to do that. Do we profess our our love to Him more intensely? Sing praise songs more earnestly? Pray with greater fervency?

Maybe. But I think there is much more.

This is an area where God has been working in my life of late. A part of what He has been teaching me comes from 2 Samuel 23:8-17 where we meet three of David’s “Mighty Men”.

Josheb-basshebeth was a warrior who killed eight hundred men at one time with a spear.

Eleazer the son of Dodo was one of three who stood with David to defy the Philistines when everyone else fled. He fought so long that he could not let go of his sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. And then a phrase that haunts me – “the people returned after him only to strip the slain.” Wow. I don’t want to be in that group. I want to be like the son of Dodo.

After him was Shammah, the son of Agee. Again, everyone else had fled. But he “took his stand” in the middle of a bean field, taking on a whole troop of Philistines. And again, the Lord brought about a great victory.

The way that this story is put together, you get the impression that these are the three chief men who go down to David at the cave of Adullam at harvest time. At this time, David was holed up in the stronghold, and there was a garrison of Philistines in Bethlehem.

While there in the cave, David had a craving for a drink from the well of Bethlehem, by the gate. And these three men heard that longing. So, they break through the Philistine forces. Not slip past. Not sneak around. Break through. All to bring David the drink of water he craves.

I have to admit David’s response is a little surprising to me. I mean, the whole point of these men risking their lives was to get him the drink he longed for. Seems the least he could do would be to drink it.

But David can’t. The water is much too valuable. It represents these men’s blood, risked to satisfy his longing. Something this precious can only be offered to God.

The example of these men’s love for David is compelling. He didn’t give a command. His statement probably would not even qualify as a request. It was simply an expression of desire. Because these warriors knew it would speak to his heart, they fought their way through the enemy forces to bring him not just water, but the water from the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate.

So what do we learn from the commitment these men showed David?

We begin with the observation that they did something they would not ordinarily do. These men were certified warriors in their own right. They knew the seriousness of their endeavor. This was not a lark. They knew the danger they faced. In fact, it was this danger which so moved David, a certified beast of a warrior himself, to prize this water so much that he could only offer it to God in sacrifice. These men understood full well the sacrifice involved, and chose to do something that they would not otherwise do.

Likewise, the love that Jesus calls us to will motivate us to do things we would not otherwise do.

Digging deeper, we see that their motivation went far beyond duty or obligation. They were moved by the desire of David’s heart.

Yes, we should follow Jesus because it is the right thing to do. But if we stop there, we remain servants. Jesus invites us to something much deeper. He invites us to be friends (John 15:14-15). As His friends, we get to know His heart. And it is this knowledge that should motivate us to do what we would not otherwise do. Not because we have to, but because it speaks to the desire of His heart.

From this perspective, the other commitments take on a different air.

In order to love Jesus in this way, we need to know His heart and hear His desires. So time in His Word and in prayer is about hearing His heart, learning His desires. Not fulfilling some religious duty. Not because He somehow takes satisfaction in the fact that we are reading x number of chapters a day. But because we are learning His heart and the things that are meaningful to Him.

In this context, the renunciation of our own agenda, to follow Him takes on a new light. No longer is it about gutting it out. It is now about living in anticipation of the joy that our acts of devotion will bring Him.

In the early stages of my daughter, Brittany’s, relationship with Seth, who is now her husband, Seth bought her a birthday present. A watch. I don’t know how much Seth spent on the watch, but I suspect it was substantial. Seth was so excited about this gift that he could not even wait until her birthday to give it to her. He spent money he would not normally spend on a watch he would never himself wear simply because he knew it would speak to Brittany’s heart. And he was so excited about speaking to her heart in this way that he couldn’t restrain himself. He couldn’t wait until her birthday to give it to her.

This is the kind of commitment Jesus desires from us. To live in such anticipation that we can’t wait to see Him, and see how our devotion speaks to His heart.

There is yet another amazing dimension to this. The way that we demonstrate this kind of love for Jesus is by loving each another in this way (1 John 4:7-21).

Do you want to speak to his heart? Then learn the hearts of your spouse, your children, your boss, and those believers who are part of your journey. Do the things that speak to their hearts. As you do, you will be speaking to Jesus’ heart.

Are you motivated more by duty, or the desire of Jesus’ heart? In what areas do you need to do what you would not otherwise do, aside from the fact that it would speak to the desire of Jesus’ heart?

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