Can’t hide your motives
In Matthew Chapter 22 and verses 15 through 22, we find that the Pharisees are up to their old tricks. They want to try to trap Jesus into saying something that will get him arrested by the Roman authorities. So they asked Him:
Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?
In the New Living Translation (which is becoming my new favorite), it says that Jesus knew their evil motives. If you read Matthew 22:16, you will find that just prior to their question, they were trying to be MAJOR “teacher’s pets”. They said to Him:
Teacher, we know how honest you are. You teach the way of God truthfully. You are impartial and don’t play favorites.
But Jesus was able to look straight through all the “smoke & mirrors” and look right into their heart at their motives.
My challenge to you today is to be real. Be real to yourself, others, and your God. God is able to see straight through it all. By “be real”, I don’t mean that you know have license to be a pain in the butt just because you happen to be one. What I mean is to be AUTHENTIC. When you talk to God, throw out the King James speak (unless you really talk like that), and speak what is REALLY on your heart – He sees it anyways. When you talk to others, be transparent and be real. Check your motives.
It is impossible to paint God into a corner. When we pray something, He can look right down to the core root of why we are praying that way.
For example, if I were to hear you pray something like “God, I am asking for a sovereign move of your Spirit on the hearts of men and women.”, I might think “Wow, that sounds pretty cool”. But God could look into your heart and see that, what you are really saying is, “God, I am way to afraid to talk to anyone else about you. I just don’t see the point in sharing my faith with others. Please just step in and pour out your Spirit on everyone so that I don’t have to talk to them. That would make me feel better”. Ouch.
God is not nearly impressed with your words as He is impressed with what words are truly flowing from your heart (whether you are speaking them out loud or not).
Check your motives at the door and be real. Authenticity is one of the next levels God is taking His church.
