Checking Our Motives
God looks at our hearts. He knows why we go to church. He knows if we are only doing it because we are being coerced.(Psalms 32:9) The same is true for reading the Bible, praying, and doing other spiritual things. If we only do them because someone else wants us to do them or because we feel like we have to, God sees that we are really missing the point. He sees that we really do not love Him. We do not understand. It is very sad.
This verse about not being like a horse or a mule jumped out at me as I read God's Word. How many of us, as believers, have to be led to go to the Lord? A bit and a bridle are forms of coercion to make the horse or mule go where they do not really want to go. They should want to do what their owner and master wants, but they don't. Therefore, they must be forced to go in the right way. That is because a horse and a mule do not have understanding of what to do, but we are to have understanding. We are to do what the Lord wants us to do out of a sincere love for Him. We should never have to be coerced to go to the Lord. We should gladly run to Him. We should do His will with enthusiasm because we understand that is what is best for us.
If you only do what you do for the Lord because you feel obligated or you "have to," there is something terribly wrong. You may not be saved. I know that may seem harsh, but think about it. Why would a person redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God who died for him and indwelt by the Holy Spirit who leads us to know and do the right things, have to be forced to do God's will? Yes, we still have to fight with our flesh, but even then, the love for the Lord should keep us wanting to do His will without having to be coerced.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 33-36.
This verse about not being like a horse or a mule jumped out at me as I read God's Word. How many of us, as believers, have to be led to go to the Lord? A bit and a bridle are forms of coercion to make the horse or mule go where they do not really want to go. They should want to do what their owner and master wants, but they don't. Therefore, they must be forced to go in the right way. That is because a horse and a mule do not have understanding of what to do, but we are to have understanding. We are to do what the Lord wants us to do out of a sincere love for Him. We should never have to be coerced to go to the Lord. We should gladly run to Him. We should do His will with enthusiasm because we understand that is what is best for us.
If you only do what you do for the Lord because you feel obligated or you "have to," there is something terribly wrong. You may not be saved. I know that may seem harsh, but think about it. Why would a person redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God who died for him and indwelt by the Holy Spirit who leads us to know and do the right things, have to be forced to do God's will? Yes, we still have to fight with our flesh, but even then, the love for the Lord should keep us wanting to do His will without having to be coerced.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 33-36.