Our Motives

The LORD’s light penetrates the human spirit,exposing every hidden motive. Prov.20:27

‘People may be pure in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their motives’ Prov.16:2. Motives are a very powerful emotional force capable of taking you through any commitment from start to finish. It is your motive in any endeavor that keeps you going even in the face of challenges. Your motive reveals your heart. Take marriage for instance; if your motive for getting married is so you can display your husband at social gatherings or satisfy your needs then you are setting yourself up for disappointments and failure. When the trials come, and they will come, all you will be thinking about is divorce and this is not God’s plan for us. It is true commitment in marriage that becomes your motivation regardless of what happens. The same thing with academics, if your motive for going to school is so that you can play and party, then when exams come you will be frustrated. If your motive for being born again is because it is a marriage requirement or the ‘in-thing’, then you are going to be offended at Jesus and at His word. Our motives are very crucial because our motives become our sustenance. As a child of God and a representative of the Most High we must examine our motives carefully. Examine your motives [heart] for giving, fasting, tithing, praying, serving, witnessing, pastoring, speaking the Word and even being a Christian because God is also checking. ‘Put me on trial, LORD, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart’ Prov.26:2. The truth is that the Christian walk is all about Jesus. It is a highly spiritual walk and if your motive is outside God, you will face disappointments. What are you expecting to reap when your motive for giving is so you can look good before the brethren? ‘The sacrifice of an evil person is detestable, especially when it is offered with wrong motives’ Prov.21:27. It has to be all about Jesus because He is the only motive strong enough to keep you till He returns.

Thought: ‘But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve’ Jer.17:10

Prayer [song]: Change my heart, O Lord; make it ever new. Change my heart, O Lord; may I be like You; in Jesus Name.