Check Your Heart
Have you ever found yourself doing things that are great, kind, helpful, but for the wrong intentions? You help around the office not because it is part of the job description but for possible promotion? You volunteer in your kid's classroom to be recognized by all the other parents? Acting way better to your teacher (you know you ain't that nice) just to make sure your grades go up and you can get away with more? Serving at Church, so others know you're ‘holy’ or you joined a GROW group (small group) to get ‘approval’ from God?
Paul wrote a letter to Philippi to encourage and thank them for their support. He urges the Church in Philippi to seek joy and contentment in Christ alone. In 1:15-18 Paul shares:
It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. (Philippians 1:15-18)
Do you preach, teach, serve, care, love because you love Jesus? Or because you are seeking selfish ambition? Sometimes our motives are not as good as our actions, sometimes it's the other way around. Have you checked your heart recently? Look at your efforts, what are you doing out of self-preservation? Is it your desire or the recognition you desire?
Do not act out from your feelings
but from God’s calling.
Sometimes we do these actions because it makes us feel good… Now although that feeling may be healthy it cannot be the only reason for the action. Paul wrote this letter from a prison cell; he still preached and taught, he always found joy and contentment from the Lord. His setting was not desirable, he didn’t feel good all the time, but he loved the Lord and served from that relationship. Do not act out from your feelings but from God’s calling.
As I first read this section of scripture, I was shocked that someones selfish actions can still result in good. Paul says:
Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. (Philippians 1:15-18)
The Holy Spirit will work through us to share the Gospel. That lives will be changed not because of our doings but because of His glory.
No matter the other person's actions, their intentions, their fame, if the Gospel is being preached, we shall rejoice! That the Holy Spirit will work through us (sinful) to share the Gospel. That lives will be changed not because of our doings but because of His glory!
Today, look at your life, your actions, your thoughts. Are you doing them out of a pure heart or a selfish desire? Check your heart. Get right with God and let every thought and action bring God glory!
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