Motive

Motive

Genesis 4: Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the Lord.” ² Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. ³ And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. ⁴ Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, ⁵ but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

 

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With the garden still there in plain sight, Adam and Eve finally stopped crying. Adam was now proficient in tilling the soil to grow vegetables, but the animals that used to be friendly, may have become a nuisance. The animal that was slain for their clothes was probably cooked and eaten. Death of animals had become a norm.

 

Adam “knew” Eve, meaning they had procreation sex. Eve, feeling dejected, praised GOD and said Cain was from the LORD. Despite the pain of childbirth, Eve had another child named Abel. Cain may have been close to his parents and shared in their regrets. “Why can’t we go in the garden?” may have been on his mind.

 

My Observations:

• Cain was a blessing from GOD to Eve.
• Abel was also a blessing, but he may have understood that the family deserved to be banished, so he mimicked JESUS by killing his best, friendliest animal and giving it to HIM.
• Cain may have seen the hurt from his parents and decided to build his own garden, and his attempt to show JESUS what he had done was rejected.

 

Motive is the fuel for some very good things or some very bad things to happen. It wasn’t the fact that GOD didn’t like vegetables, or that HE needed an offering. It was the motive behind the offering that became a problem.

 

GOD is GOD. HE is just, and sovereign. But sometimes when things are not going “My” way, makes me see GOD as a problem. Or maybe it’s the people who are the problem. Instead of blame, GOD wants the motive to be checked.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD go into detail about Cain’s efforts and offering to Moses?
• Have you ever done something for GOD with the wrong motive?
• Are you willing to examine your motives to determine if they point to GOD or yourself?

What is the Real Motivation?

 

What is the Real Motivation?

Romans 15: ¹⁴ My friends: I myself feel sure that you are full of goodness, that you have all knowledge, and that you are able to teach one another. ¹⁵ But in this letter I have been quite bold about certain subjects of which I have reminded you. I have been bold because of the privilege God has given me ¹⁶ of being a servant of Christ Jesus to work for the Gentiles. I serve like a priest in preaching the Good News from God, in order that the Gentiles may be an offering acceptable to God, dedicated to him by the Holy Spirit. ¹⁷ In union with Christ Jesus, then, I can be proud of my service for God. 

 

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Each day seemed to bring on a new trouble. It was a rough time and “everything” was going wrong. I had not focused on GOD very much, so I turned to HIM as a last resort. “Maybe if I am good, then I can get out of the trouble I’m in” I thought to myself.

 

I stopped doing a few sins I blatantly knew I was doing in hopes that the trial would end sooner. When the trial was over. I went back to the same sins.

 

There have been times when I tried to act righteous to get my way.

There have been times when I tried to use manipulation on GOD to get my way.

There have been times when I tried to be “good” temporarily so I could get my way.

 

Paul expresses his surety in the capabilities of those he wrote the letter. He also mentions his reason for writing. Paul wanted “everyone” to be accepted by JESUS, not just those he was familiar with. He would not be proud of himself until the Gentiles believed in JESUS.

 

GOD wants me to have a true purpose.

GOD wants my purpose to be permanent.

GOD wants JESUS to be known as the Savior and HE wants me to have this as my purpose.

 

When getting out of trouble becomes my purpose, I would desperately do anything. I mean, I lose sleep, panic and worry my way into a solution that usually fails and then I panic more. GOD wants to change that. HE brings me back to having purpose in my life, namely teaching people about the Good News of JESUS.

 

With purpose, temptations go away. It is easier to say “no” to fear, doubt and worry when GOD is my true purpose. Staying in the trial becomes easier when I have purpose because I know GOD wants me right where HE has me and HE is with me. I can then have peace wherever HE places me.

 

What is your purpose in life?

What is GOD’s purpose for you?

Will you accept GOD’s real purpose HE made you so you can speak about JESUS today?

Reasoning

Reasoning

Acts 17: When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. ² As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, ³ explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said. ⁴ Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women.

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“This doesn’t make sense” I said. I was struggling to understand the concept and was stuck on a couple of minor details. When someone explained the concepts, without using technical terms, I understood what was being taught. I understood the reason we were doing what we were doing.

• There are times when I don’t understand.
• There are times when I get stuck on minor concepts.
• There are times when I need someone to explain some things I get stuck on.

Paul reasoned with the people about JESUS for three weeks. He pointed out that the Messiah is JESUS, who had to suffer and rise from the dead. After appealing to their logic, many people believed. Paul was able to explain JESUS well enough that people sought HIM.

• GOD wants me to logically believe in HIM.
• GOD wants me to understand HIS love for me.
• GOD wants me to be able to explain who JESUS is.

Talking about JESUS can be an emotional subject. I mean HE is pure love and showed me compassion. But there is a logical side to GOD. HE created humans with free will to choose HIM or not. It took me a while to grasp the logic behind HIS creation.

While I don’t fully understand everything GOD does, HE supplies me with faith to hop over the gaps in knowledge. Faith is logical and I reason to believe in JESUS.

• Are you reasoning GOD out of your life?
• Do you look at things logically without seeing GOD in everything?
• Will you use your reasoning to understand GOD’s love for you as you seek a better understanding by reading about JESUS in HIS word?

Problem Purpose

Problem Purpose

Acts 8: ⁴ Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. ⁵ Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. ⁶ And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. ⁷ For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. ⁸ And there was great joy in that city.

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Running as fast as my out of shape body could go, I got to the gate too late. I missed the flight and was a bit frustrated. Fortunately, there was another flight so I asked to be placed on the list and got accepted. Parallel to this, my friends at home and I were going through a book, trying to grow in GOD. I read this on the flight.

The person next to me, on the rebooked flight, asked me about the book. We talked about GOD the whole flight and I was able to pray for her husband and son. I then told her about my quiet time with the LORD. She was retiring in another country and asked for the blog address. It is read quite heavily in that country to this day.

• Some problems I have faced have actually been a blessing.
• Some situations I have faced turned out to be exactly what I needed.
• Some trials I have faced happen for a great reason.

Because the people could not meet together, they spoke about JESUS where they were scattered to. Philip spoke so boldly in Samaria that many believed, were healed and unclean spirits fled. The city had great joy!

• GOD scatters me when I am complacent.
• GOD moves me when I am very comfortable.
• GOD send me when I am not expecting it.

“Be ready” is the term GOD wants me to carry. HE may send me out to speak about HIM, HIS SON and the HOLY SPIRIT at any moment. The responsibility is not on a church leader, rather it is on me. GOD wants me to preach HIS great news, especially during times of problems. I am grateful HE sends me during trials.

• Are you going through a large trial?
• Do you ask “Why is this happening?”
• Will you accept where you are and allow GOD to speak through you so you can be used to bless someone with encouraging words today?

As long as I am here

As long as I am here

John 9: Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. ² And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

³ Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. ⁴ I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. ⁵ As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

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Holding my breath, I sped into the greasy, urine laced bathroom. It was the only option. On my way out, I remembered the words of one of the leader’s at work… “Leave a place better than you found it.” I looked at the overflowing garbage and knew I could not do anything about it. Instead, I cleaned the greasy sink as I washed my hands.

• Sometimes the situations that I face are really undesirable.
• Sometimes the solution that I come up with may be small.
• Sometimes I have to do something as long as I am here.

“Why is this man blind?” JESUS disciples questioned. They were on the right track because they believed everything stemmed from a spiritual nature. “Did he sin or his parents?” JESUS guides their thinking and provided the root cause of the blindness. “So GOD can should be revealed in him.”

• GOD wants me to serve HIM while I am alive.
• GOD wants me to serve others as long as I am living.
• GOD wants me to make the place a little better as long as I am in the world.

Solving poverty, abuse, neglect, pollution, crime, racism, and sexual misconduct seem overwhelming at times. Any one of those sins could have me dedicate my entire life trying to eradicate them from humans. BUT GOD gives me a different view.

HE wants me to see each person I encounter as unique. I can confess a variety sins I have done and explain how JESUS forgave them all. I can then spread HIS hope of an eternal future that only comes from HIM. As long as I am in the world, I may as well serve the Living GOD.

• What do you do daily?
• Why has GOD left you alive?
• Will you live your life for HIM, even if it is a smile or a word of encouragement to a stranger today?