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?

No Seconds

No Seconds

Revelation 2: ⁸ “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:

 

“This is the message from the one who is the first and the last, who died and lived again. ⁹ I know your troubles; I know that you are poor—but really you are rich! I know the evil things said against you by those who claim to be Jews but are not; they are a group that belongs to Satan! ¹⁰ Don't be afraid of anything you are about to suffer. Listen! The Devil will put you to the test by having some of you thrown into prison, and your troubles will last ten days. Be faithful to me, even if it means death, and I will give you life as your prize of victory.

 

¹¹ “If you have ears, then, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches!

“Those who win the victory will not be hurt by the second death.

 

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After going through the storm of life, I sat in a daze. This particular storm was pretty harsh. Wounded and exhausted I said “Please don’t let another storm happen right now.”

 

• Life had dished out difficult stretch.
• Wave one of problems was enough.
• I don’t know how I could have survived another wave of problems like that.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, wrote his second warning of seven. This time it was to Smyrna. JESUS had no correction for this church. However, HE did say this church would suffer from religious persecution. John gave a perspective of death that is healthy for believers. There will be no “second” death to those who believe.

 

My Observations:

• Fearing death is natural, BUT GOD wants me to desire eternal life with HIM.
• Believers of JESUS will experience everlasting life if they die.
• Those who die without belief in JESUS as the Savior, will experience a second death that is eternal.

 

Eternal death is not only permanent, but never ending. Pain and suffering intensifies from one moment to the next. Meanwhile, those who have eternal life will experience no pain, no suffering and increasing reasons to praise!

 

GOD sees the suffering that you and I have gone through. HE stores up rewards in heaven where they cannot be stolen by the enemy. HE is excited to provide relief from life’s pressures, but HE wants us to remain until we find the last person to accept JESUS as the Savior.

 

Challenge

• What feeling does the writer write about?
• Have you ever felt oppressed or faced suffering for your belief in JESUS?
• Will you continue in your faith, even if persecution increases, knowing that GOD has you and you will not experience a second death, but will reap a wonderful harvest?

 

Permanent Love

 

Permanent Love

Romans 8: ³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

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Collecting frequent traveler points was the norm for me. I stayed in a specific chain, gathering enough points to one day take my family on a lavish vacation. When hard times hit, I spent a long period not traveling. When I looked into the points, the hotel chain said, “You haven’t traveled in a while so you lost all your points.”

 

• There have been times when I felt I would be cast out if I did not do the right things.
• There have been times when I felt I would lose everything if I did not follow the rules of those who were holding me hostage.
• There have been times when I felt so full of fear, that I made excuses for not speaking about the only ONE who truly loved me.

 

Paul says “We are more than conquerors.” Bullies, thieves, liars and those who try to harm others cannot separate us from the love of JESUS. He speaks about permanent love.

 

• GOD wants me to know HIS love for me is permanent.
• GOD wants me to understand that nothing can separate me from the love of JESUS.
• GOD wants me to be convinced that all problems caused by humans, demons or powers are temporary but the LOVE of JESUS is eternal.

 

“Problem free” is the lie told by Satan. I mean, the expectation that life would be one long vacation on earth is a false expectation that is placed in front of humans to try to separate them from the love of GOD. Temptation after temptation are placed in front of all humans to get us to turn away from GOD. Who can save us? JESUS!

 

Only JESUS can open my eyes to see HE has the situation under control. Once HE has given me a purpose, that purpose cannot be stopped. It may look impossible, BUT GOD steps in and handles everything for me. I am grateful JESUS loves me so much that even my sin cannot separate me from HIM.

 

• Have you been dumped?
• Do you feel cast out and dejected by circumstances out of your control?
• Will you allow GOD to open your eyes to HIS permanent love for you today by believing in JESUS, who loves you dearly?

Bad Introduction

 

Bad Introduction

Romans 5: ¹² Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—

 

¹³ To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. ¹⁴ Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.

 

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“Go ahead, try it”, were the words of the dare. I had not used a “curse” word in my life and I was dared to do so. I said the word and received laughter. I then tried all kinds of “curse” words and soon they were part of my normal language. What’s the big deal? I fit in.

 

• There was a time when I wanted to fit in.
• There was a time when I would follow what the crowd did.
• There was a time when I did the wrong thing and felt part of the crowd.

 

Paul mentions the beginning of sin through Adam. His sin was disobeying GOD by eating from the one tree he was told to stay away from. Satan tempted Adam into eating the fruit, twisting GOD’s command.

 

What’s the big deal? Adam fell for the temptation and death was introduced to humans. All humans now deserved to be separated from GOD because of one simple act that did not seem to be a big deal.

 

• GOD knew sin was introduced to me before I was born.
• GOD knew I would choose sin over HIM because everyone around me are sinners too.
• GOD knew HE had the only remedy to my sin, namely HE had to die just for me.

 

It’s not fair, one would say. I mean, everyone has to go to hell just because of one person? Yes. BUT GOD wasn’t having it. JESUS, being GOD, volunteered to take on the punishment HE decreed. Anyone who sins deserves death, no matter how small the sin.

 

This, seemingly extreme, sentence was overcome by JESUS. “I’ll die for everyone”, HE volunteered. JESUS enabled me to not suffer for eternity.  I am truly grateful HE broke the pattern of death for me.

 

• Are you excusing what you are doing because everyone else is doing it?
• Have you or others declared you as “good?”
• Will you look to JESUS as the only one who is good and seek HIM for salvation and guidance today?

Be Prepared

Luke 17: ²² Then He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. ²³ And they will say to you, ‘Look here!’ or ‘Look there!’ Do not go after them or follow them. ²⁴ For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day. ²⁵ But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. ²⁶ And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: ²⁷ They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. ²⁸ Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; ²⁹ but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. ³⁰ Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

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Running to the gate in hopes of catching the plane ended up in true disappointment. I could literally see the plane being pushed away from the gate. A sinking feeling came over me. The fact that I missed my flight was not so permanent, but I was supposed to meet one of the higher ups who was trying to land a huge account. I had stayed up late preparing and overslept.

• I have missed buses because I was late.
• I have missed trains because I was late.
• I have missed planes because I was late.

JESUS warns the disciples about human history, except HIS examples were extreme. During the times of Noah, the people had turned from GOD. The people of Sodom did the same. In both accounts, JESUS mentions their destruction. The people stopped being prepared and fell asleep.

• GOD wants me to remain awake towards HIS love each and ever day.
• GOD wants me to look for JESUS’ return every day.
• GOD wants me to be prepared for HIS return by looking for HIS lost people each and every day.

Falling asleep on GOD is easy to do. I mean when things are going well, I have a tendency to pray less and sometimes forget HE is even there. Even when I go through difficult times, I forget that GOD loves me with extreme love. GOD wants me to be prepared for bad times and good. HE wants me to understand that HIS everlasting love never fails.

• Have you fallen asleep on GOD?
• Do you want to force HIM to reveal HIMSELF to you the way “you” want?
• Will you wake up and get prepared by seeking people who need to hear the message of GOD today?

The GOOD NEWS and the bad news

Revelation 10: ¹⁰ I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. ¹¹ Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.”

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Nervously I stood and walked down the aisle of our church.  Something moved me to get up and accept what was being said about CHRIST. What a sweet moment! Little did I know, the message of CHRIST wouldn’t always be an easy one to swallow.

• The GOOD NEWS is CHRIST died for me and everyone; the bad news is not everyone will accept HIM.
• The GOOD NEWS is CHRIST paid the penalty of my sin and anyone who believes; the bad news is many who say they believe have not truly put JESUS above all.
• The GOOD NEWS is CHRIST made salvation available to me and anyone else; the bad news is people will try to force their way into heaven by doing good, acting religious or trying to avoid sin.

Heaven is truly a remarkable place that I look forward to seeing those who have died before me but the reality is, I will not see everyone I thought I would see. Quite frankly there will be some who will be surprised to see me in heaven!

• GOD wants me to spread the GREAT NEWS about HIS SON to all people.
• GOD wants me to spread the GREAT NEWS about HIS SON to every nation.
• GOD wants me to spread the GREAT NEWS about HIS SON to kings of many languages.

The bad news is there will be opposition to HIS message. There will be many obstacles to my belief and temptations to pull away from GOD. Sin will look easier than serving. BUT GOD’s will, will be done!

• Are you following GOD’s way or your own way?
• Do you believe you can be good enough to get in heaven or has JESUS died for your sins?
• Is your lifestyle pleasing to GOD or can you ask HIM to help you change it?
• Won’t you seek HIS face today?