For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts. 1 Thessalonians 2:4

Do you ever just sit and ponder the motives of your heart? The true motives of your heart? Do you ask yourself why you do things?  So many times I feel like my motives are right, but then my actions turn wrong.  How about you?

I know that with all my heart I want to serve the Lord and do his will. I want to be all that he wants me to be. But let’s get honest for a minute – it’s not always that easy, is it?

That sinful nature sometimes seems to have a mind of it’s own!

Praise God that there is no condemnation for those who belong to Jesus. Because we belong to him the power of the life giving Spirit has freed us from the power of sin that leads to death.

How do YOU discover the motives of your own heart?

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. Romans 8:5

So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God.  It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.

That’s why those who are still under the control of the sinful nature can never please God.

But you are not controlled by the sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all). Romans 8:6-9

I encourage you today to speak and act as a messengers approved by God. Praise the Lord that he has entrusted you to share the Good News. And remember, your purpose on this earth is to please the Spirit of God, not people. He alone knows the motives of your heart.

“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things,
    and desperately wicked.
    Who really knows how bad it is?
 But I, the Lord, search all hearts
    and examine secret motives.
I give all people their due rewards,
    according to what their actions deserve.”  Jeremiah 17:9-10

Take time this week and examine the motives of your heart. Discuss this topic with someone in your fellowship community. Pray for each other that the motives of your heart are pleasing to God – always.  I’ll be praying for you too!