What are your motives?

“The LORD’s searchlight penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive

When we do things out of obligation or have to, does it count even if our heart's motives are wrong? I wonder how often we convince ourselves that the Lord is pleased if we just do what we are supposed to, yet our heart’s attitude is wrong.

Isn't it the heart He looks at and the motives which are in the heart?

The hearts motive, it is either true and sincere or convinced obligation and good works is enough. We might be able to say we do this or that because we are supposed to but if the motive of our heart is wrong the actions become a have to duty.

Jesus does not want our love and service to Him to be an obligation or have to; instead He wants it to be a want to that comes from a heart that loves Him.

He does not want our marriages or love and service to others to be a have to, but a want to, because it is our hearts purest desire and because we love Him.

He sees the motive in every single thing we do.

Do we love because we have to or because we want to? Jesus loved because He wanted to not because He had to.

Do we forgive because we have to or because we want to? Jesus forgave because He loved us and wanted to be with us, not because He had to.

Do we serve others because we have to or because we want to? Jesus served because He loved us and loved His Father, not because He had to.

Do we study His Word because we have to or because we want to? Jesus gave us His Word because He wanted us to know how much He loved us, who He was, and what He promises us. Not because He had to.

Do we go to church because we have to or because we want to? Jesus did not create the church because He had to, but because He wanted those who love Him, and are a part of His body, to worship Him with one heart.

Do we accept Jesus because we have to or because we want to? Jesus did not die and offer us life through Him because He had to. He died on the cross because He loved us so much He wanted to save us from hell.

Do we live a good moral life because we think it will keep us out of hell? Jesus sees the motive and a motive without Christ is the wrong motive.

Choose to serve, love, and worship Jesus, not because you have to. But because of what He did for you on the cross. For when we fully grasp His love and mercy we will then produce pure and sincere motives that are pleasing to Him.

Jesus examine my motives and reveal to me all the ones that are displeasing to You. Amen