The Motives Behind Our Actions Matter to God
God looks at the heart. He is not impressed with actions that do not proceed from a pure heart. God looks for the motives behind our actions. If the motive is not right, the Lord does not accept our actions.(Zechariah 7:5) During the 70 years of the Exile in Babylon, the people of God fasted in the fifth and seventh months. However, God did not accept their fasting, because it was not for Him. It was selfish. They were trying to get some good blessings from God for themselves. He saw that wrong motive, and He was not pleased with their fasting and mourning.
Our church is starting a month of prayer, and we will be fasting, too. We are praying for God to lead us to people who need Him, so we can witness to them. We are praying for God to bless our church to reach more people and to involve them in our small groups, which we call Connection Groups. This is a great spiritual exercise, if we have the right motive. If we are seeking these things for His glory, and if we are not wanting to get personal glory for anything that is done, He will be happy with our fasting, our prayer, and our actions. However, if it is for us, we will miss His blessings.
Let's all stop and examine the motives of our hearts. Let's make sure everything we do is for Him, not for ourselves. Let's strive to do His will for His glory, not for our reward.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Zechariah 8-10.
Our church is starting a month of prayer, and we will be fasting, too. We are praying for God to lead us to people who need Him, so we can witness to them. We are praying for God to bless our church to reach more people and to involve them in our small groups, which we call Connection Groups. This is a great spiritual exercise, if we have the right motive. If we are seeking these things for His glory, and if we are not wanting to get personal glory for anything that is done, He will be happy with our fasting, our prayer, and our actions. However, if it is for us, we will miss His blessings.
Let's all stop and examine the motives of our hearts. Let's make sure everything we do is for Him, not for ourselves. Let's strive to do His will for His glory, not for our reward.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Zechariah 8-10.