Motive. It is one of the keys to following Christ in everyday life. As I was sitting in Church recently, my pastor referenced a few verses from 1 Thessalonians 2. I was reminded that, He (God) is the one who examines the motives of our hearts. (1 Thess. 2:4c). Only God can do this. Others can and do interpret words and actions, but ultimately God is the only one who knows the motive of our heart. I’m convinced there are times when an individual may not entirely know why something was said or acted out. We may say things or do things we never intended to. At this point in life, we need to depend on the Holy Spirit to govern over our words, thoughts and deeds. We are often clueless and even blindsided to learn how others have interpreted what we’ve done or said. At these points in time, I am thrilled to know that God knows what is going on deep down in the heart – the soil from where motives emerge.

Motive reveals what is driving a person. It is the reason why we do what we do and say what we say. So, I have to check myself often, “What motive do you have?” There are times when motives are selfish. It would be nice if everyone’s motives were pure. So, what do I pray and intend for my motives to be on a daily basis – no matter what or who I am dealing with? I personally have five:

1. To love Jesus fully.
2. To be a devoted husband and Dad.
3. To impact as many as possible with the Gospel.
4. To be a faithful friend.
5. To tangibly serve the local church.

After all, our purpose is to be just like the Apostle Paul’s: “…to please God….”

- Dr. Jim Dunn (General Director of Spiritual Formation Dept. of The Wesleyan Church)

Tags: formation, Jim Dunn

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