What is your motive? (3)

Dearly beloved, I trust this finds you well and bubbling in the Lord. God is concerned about our motives and He will one day judge everyone’s motives. 2 Corinthians 5v10 (AMPC) says “For we must all appear and be revealed as we are before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive [his pay] according to what he has done in the body, whether good or evil [considering what his purpose and motive have been, and what he has achieved, been busy with, and given himself and his attention to accomplishing].” Synonyms for motive include reason, purpose, motivation, intention, aim and cause.

For everything we do, there is usually a motive, a reason behind it. Are your motives pure? Paul told the Corinthians that he didn’t even trust his own judgment, but it is God’s judgment that counts. And that should be the same for us. 1 Corinthians 4v3-6 (TLB) that “What about me? Have I been a good servant? Well, I don’t worry over what you think about this or what anyone else thinks. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point. My conscience is clear, but even that isn’t final proof. It is the Lord himself who must examine me and decide. So be careful not to jump to conclusions before the Lord returns as to whether someone is a good servant or not. When the Lord comes, he will turn on the light so that everyone can see exactly what each one of us is really like, deep down in our hearts. Then everyone will know why we have been doing the Lord’s work. At that time God will give to each one whatever praise is coming to him.” Yet, we are encouraged in Romans 12v2 (AMPC) as to how we can begin to walk in ways that are acceptable and pleasing to God: “Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you,  but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.” The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. Let the Spirit of God transform you by the Word of God. Dig deep into the Word of God – in there, you will know what God wants, what is pleasing to Him and by His Spirit begin to change to become like Him.

Prayer

Father, we thank You so much for Your love. We keep ourselves in Your love, and we thank You for You are able to keep us from stumbling or falling.  We pray You will search us and know us, try us and know our anxious thoughts, see if there is any impure motive in us or anything that displeases You, and lead us in the right path in Jesus name, amen. We take on the mind of Christ, the mind of humility, reverence for God, service for humanity, and love in Jesus Christ. Thank You for the Spirit of Christ lives in us as children of God. Help us to walk in the Spirit so that we do not fulfil the lusts of the flesh, in Jesus name we pray, amen.

Separately, only children of God have the Spirit of Christ and are able to live a life that pleases God. If you find that you want to do the right thing, but constantly fail, God has made a way for you through Jesus Christ. He was the one who hadn’t sinned but died for us that we can be made right with God. The question for you is if you will receive this sacrifice. If you would like to accept Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour, and you want to have a relationship with Him.

The Bible says:

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”  Romans 10v9-10 (NIV)

You can say this prayer: Heavenly Father, I come to You today, confessing that I am a sinner. I am sorry for all that I have done and ask that You forgive me for all of my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Lord Jesus, I ask that You be Lord and Saviour over my life. I believe that You came to die for my sins, and that God raised You from the dead. Thank You Father for translating me out of the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Your dear Son. Thank You for sealing me with Your Holy Spirit of promise. Please keep me till the end in You, and may Your Name alone be glorified in my life, in Jesus name I pray, amen.

If you said this prayer today, know that you are now a child of God and that there is much jubilation in heaven because of you. Begin to attend a Bible-believing church, and keep the faith! Welcome to God’s family.