Year: 2020

Mixed Motives

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
Matthew 6:3 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.6.3.ESV

Both the “religious” man and the “godly” man can see that there is good benefit in giving to the needy — the religious man from a self-serving nature to be praised by men or to increase in vain-glory — and the “godly” from an inward principle that wells up allowing neither complacency or ostentation in the face of need.

The religious man will find that he cannot use fear of vain-glory as the valid excuse for complacency in his ignoring the needs of others, nor can he choose to receive his reward now and expect his work to not be burned up in the discerning fires.

According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
1 Corinthians 3:10‭-‬15 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/1co.3.10-15.ESV

This can be a challenging subject for a religious man to consider, since he cannot trust his own heart in such matters. The heart is deceitful and will fight like a special forces team inserted in the dark of night to defend ego when it sits upon the throne of prideful men’s hearts. And it would rather the man abandon consideration of helping his needy brother than insure that God alone receives any and all glory.

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.“
Jeremiah 17:9‭-‬10 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/jer.17.9-10.ESV

And while this should be a comfort to the man who is fully trusting in the Lord to establish his steps — it should be a horribly fearful warning to the m as n who counts on the evidence of his good works and reputation to account for anything in the Kingdom of God. Psalm 139 reminds us that He is acquainted with all of our ways, our innermost “why” behind both our action and our inaction:

You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.
Psalm 139:3 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.139.3.ESV

So we are warned that any “mixed motives” are not mixed at all — that we cannot serve two masters. This is the very definition of the “religious” man, because he seeks the appearance of serving God like the “godly” man, but he is not actually surrendered and serving God — He still loves himself too much to die to self.

No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.
Matthew 6:24a ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.6.24.ESV

And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord , choose this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord .”
Joshua 24:15 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/jos.24.15.ESV

“Christian”, whether we be a “religious” man or a “godly” man, we must examine ourselves and inquire with God for the truth about who it is who lives in this vessel:

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
Galatians 2:20‭-‬21 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/gal.2.20-21.ESV

If we find evidence of mixed motives, do not fear. We need only confess our sin, turn back to God in repentance, believe in Him and not ourselves for our salvation, and seek His glory and not our own in our sanctification.

We must not ignore such a call for surrender when we find that ego has even a foothold left upon the territory of our hearts. We must shine the light of God’s grace and mercy on that territory and see the enemy flee. Any counterfeit kings, idols, gods trying to lay claim to territory in our hearts must die — even ego/self — to make way for the only King that will truly love us and not harm us — King Jesus.

And when He is truly King, we will not fail to give to the needy, because it is in His character and nature and He is living in us and through us. We will not seek honor from men or bathe ourselves in vain-glory because it isn’t something we are doing ourselves that is spectacular or to be put on display, but it is what He is doing through us. It is then that He can fulfill the following scripture through us:

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:14‭-‬16 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.5.14-16.ESV

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 6:1 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.6.1.ESV

Such things aren’t possible for even a very “religious” man. A man with “mixed motives”, with a checklist of “what I can do” and another list of “what I can’t do” will never reconcile Matthew 5:14 and Matthew 6:1, because he has made it about himself. This is explained explicitly when Jesus speaks about riches (the other extreme from need):

And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:23‭-‬26 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.19.23-26.ESV

And even when Peter, like a very “religious” man says:

Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?“
Matthew 19:27 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.19.27.ESV

Peter in that moment reveals his left hand. “Look what I’ve done! What do I get?” Vain-glory on display right there in front of God. Isn’t that how we can be at times, even in our prayers? Even in our “ministry”? Even in our “good works”? But Jesus doesn’t smite him. He doesn’t disqualify him. In language we might better understand today, “Jesus doesn’t have Peter box up his belongings, accept a severance package, thank him for his time and send him packing because he just doesn’t get it. Nor does he give him a checklist of do’s and don’ts. He points to the answer that is beyond self, He points to something beyond this fallen world, He points to an upside down Kingdom where God accomplishes what man cannot — through selfless, sacrificial love.”

Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
Matthew 19:28‭-‬30 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.19.28-30.ESV

Lord, rather than just scrambling for what rough edges we might need knocked off, polished up, and put on display for others to see as the image of who we are — put your light on display through us so that men might be in awe of your glory, your grace, your mercy, your love, and your holiness. Come do in us the amazing things for others for your glory that we would either not do, or would do for our own glory. Take your rightful place upon the throne of our hearts and lives, and lead us by your Holy Spirit to see all the counterfeit idols cast out of the territory of our heart, mind, speech and actions for your sovereign reign. Establish our footsteps in The Way, and lead us. Amen.

He Makes Me

I’ve seen this particular verse more times than I can count, but after taking our Pomeranian, PomPom, outside this morning for her morning walk — I saw this in a special light:

“He makes me” and “He leads me” jumped out of this as if they were highlighted like I’ve highlighted them above.

And I thought of PomPom, who occasionally wants to go her own way or get herself into trouble when we take her outside to go potty or go for walks. My wife and daughter take her out on a leash to go outside, so they can make her behave and keep her out of trouble. I take her out and correct her by my voice and my presence alone. I pondered how this parallels the Lord’s guidance and what this verse is talking about.

I’m also reminded of a recent C. S. Lewis quote that came up in a group on Facebook dedicated to the author’s works, where the contemplative discussion was on God’s will versus our own will:

“No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it” jumps out to me in this quote, and I contemplate the distractions that our dog, PomPom, encounters wore regularly that would not bring her joy. Examples are:

• She smells something especially stinky that she wants to roll in — but which would result in us having to wash her (for both health and cleanliness reasons since she is an indoor dog) that she does not enjoy having to endure, and each bath dries out her skin ands makes her itch more than usual.
• She gets curious and wants to wander too far away — which could leave her exposed to the predatory hawks we have in the area who are not afraid to pluck a chicken, rabbit, or small dog even while people are nearby, or to the coyotes, or to traffic on the road — all of which would not be an enjoyable experience for her or for us.
• She finds something that is not food that she wants to try eating — most of which is not healthy for her, will make her sick, and will have her wretching and puking later — which is not enjoyable to her, but is even less enjoyable if we must take her to the vet.

So when we see her being tempted, we make her do something different than her senses and feelings in the moment are screaming at her to do. Our heavenly Father seems to “make us” and “lead us” in similar ways beyond mere conscience or memory of previous consequences that could be dismissed as “self”. Wouldn’t it be foolish (and dangerous) for PomPom to think to herself if she saw an open door, “Cool, I go out there all the time and never face dangers. I don’t need them with me! I’m headed on an adventure! I can do all the things they never let me do!”

But can we admit to ourselves that this is sometimes how we treat God in His “making us” and “leading us”?

Isn’t this exactly what happened in the garden?

Isn’t this exactly what happened the last time that we decided to go at it “on our own” and leave God behind?

Sadly, this verse highlighted recently by Brian Morin speaks to the alternative to God’s leading:

So many men will follow their sensuality to “their condemnation from long ago” to “their destruction” rather than be led by God. What a sad thought for those who refuse to repent and believe that God’s way truly is best and that everything else is danger, hurt, sickness, and death. What a sad thought for those who oppose God’s will because of senses and feelings, but have no understanding that God does such things from a place of love, grace and mercy extended to us.

I’m reminded of this recent verse image created by JoAnn Reid:

And you may wonder, “What does love have to do with obedience?”

Everything!

A religious man who doesn’t know the Lord and doesn’t love the Lord or love others can look at precepts in the Bible and try to live by them — like a checklist to keep his life from running off the rails — and he can build a reputation as a wise man. But He might live his life under the burdensome and stressful strain of trying to live up to the whitewashed “brand” he is trying to sell to the world around him — advertising his good deeds, even while knowing that he is empty and dead on the inside. This is NOT The Way, this is NOT what Psalm 23 is talking about. This is NOT why I share from the Bible. Don’t settle for rolling in the stench of religion when you can be led by the Lord.

When you see what He has done for you on the cross, when you see that He is a good Father leading you because He loves you, when you see that remaining close with Him as much as possible — you will rest at his feet, you will be filled with joy every time that He “enters the room”, you will love the healthy food and treats He provides you. I look at how Pompom clings to me, and this is what we want with the Lord, this is what is best. This is what stirs up love to the point that a leash of law is no longer necessary, and that we live in love and trust.

Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
Galatians 3:23‭-‬29 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/gal.3.23-29.ESV

What is better for PomPom than knowing how to look out for hawks and coyotes, and knowing how to avoid things that are bad for her on her own? Walking with her daddy, having me there with her to lead her — even in those times she might be tempted to head off into danger so that she can hear the correction and choose to listen, and learn that the voice is trustworthy.

Lord, make us and lead us as you will. We trust that you know best. Forgive us for those times when we haven’t trusted and have resisted your will and your correction. We trust that it is not to harm us, but is for our good — even when we might not understand in the moment. May your pure love for us be so contagious from our time with you that it changes us from being led away by our senses, feelings and desires — to long for more of your love and to show that love in everything we are and everything we do. Lord, only by you will we “get it right”. Help us. Amen.

Hurt Dog or Trusted Companion

I was inspired today by 3 friends who were talking about “tearing down” versus “building up” in their own unique ways today — and about how others tearing down themselves and us can present a profound opportunity in how we respond:

And I found this video:

I’m reminded of how a hurt or abused dog might lash out and bite others — even people who are trying to help them.

We never know what hurt or abuse someone else is dealing with — so many times when we get hurt by others, we either think “What did I do?” or “Why are they so hurtful towards me?” And it might not even be about what is between the two of us, but it can be left over from something else.

So if we get hurt, and fall into offense instead of forgiving them (regardless of whether we believe they deserve our forgiveness, but solely because they need our forgiveness and love in order to heal) — if we withhold that forgiveness and love, we are left with them remaining bitter and with bitterness growing in our own hearts as well.

It can be hard to forgive when we are wronged and they don’t deserve our forgiveness — and that is why Christ demonstrated this to us on the cross — extending His forgiveness and mercy to us, undeserved. And taking hold of that grace frees us to forgive, to pay it forward because we could never do enough to pay Him back.

I’m sorry that you got hurt. I’m sorry that whoever hurt you was a broken, hurting person not abiding in the Spirit of God and loving you. I hope that you don’t see me responding as anything but a virtual hug of love, of forgiveness, of remembrance of what Christ did for us and calls us to do in return.

I’ve been dealing with something myself recently where it was hard to understand why, hard to not just see evil men standing against me, hard to forgive — and it was hard for me because I had forgotten how much I had been forgiven, I had let my heart grow cold and hard in certain areas instead of letting Christ reign supreme in every area of my life. I’ve confessed this, repented, and I’m surrendering whole new areas of my life to see Christ mend and heal and strengthen me with peace I didn’t have before. And I’m confident that when you are ready and ask Him, that He will move those same mountains for you.

And what is amazing, is that we can be transformed from a hurt dog that hurts others — to a trustworthy companion when joy, forgiveness, and love is restored. Going through challenge together — working through differences — restoring what was once broken — proves through the fire a trust that has been tested and proven.

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:12‭-‬17 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/col.3.12-17.ESV

True Worship

I saw this morning that Matt Padula (a worship leader at The Well church in Landrum, SC) had just finished a 5 day study plan called “True Worship” on the Bible app, and it caught my eye and called to me this morning.

And the devotional content hit home quickly for me during this season, as we have been dealing with first the financial impact on my wife’s business and income as a gig worker — and then the additional challenges of my losing my job more recently:

I wonder how often my prayers, my thoughts, and my worship has been focused on MY need instead of HIS sufficiency, on MY burdens instead of HIS strength and faithfulness.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:29 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.11.29.ESV

I wonder how often I have not entered into the rest of knowing that God’s plan and purpose is not for harm but for good when I face storms, mountains, or fiery trials — because my focus has been on ME and not on CHRIST?

We encounter a wonderful opportunity for surrender during challenging seasons. And new territories of our lives, of our character, of our habits — can be handed over to Christ to be infiltrated by the Kingdom of God ruling freely in our hearts and lives.

I had written all of the above and realized that I needed to hurry to get to 4 Points Church in Greer, SC this morning to get all of the technology ready for the kid check in, giving kiosks, 4Kids rooms, etc. that I’ve been helping Josh Scott with these past few Sundays.

The shock of hopping into a cold shower, seeing a low tire on my vehicle, finding the gas gauge on empty, thoughts of financial challenges, thoughts of upcoming job interviews this week — any of these could have been a burden or offense that would have gotten in the way of my worship on the way to church. And as each one of them tried to distract me from my worship — I listened to “Here” by Kari Jobe until I could sing it to Him and not drift off into distraction of listening to anything else. I knew that I needed tho renew my mind so that my eyes were on Christ, not on my circumstances.

And after helping get things ready at the church, I hurried to enjoy breakfast with my family and our newly found friends at the Waffle House on Hwy 101 in Greer, SC. And there was a spirit of joy, of community, of love in that Waffle House. A family was sitting there with twin 2 year olds with Waffle House crowns on their heads in such joy, that we all remarked that it could have been a TV commercial. We shared together some of our challenges from the week, and God received glory from multiple people for getting us through yet another week again faithfully. And the BMW fire department pulled up in the big red truck and even took the toddlers and their parents on a tour of the bright truck that catches the eyes and imagination of kids of all ages and sizes. The Norman Rockwell morning we were all having together was in extreme contrast to what politics and media outlets seem to be trying to convince us to otherwise.

And we arrived at church to a packed house, where extra chairs were having to be brought in for all the people looking to lift high the name of Jesus. And there was such diversity in the people there — no family looked “all the same” — but every individual reflected the image of God and was there lifting up the name of Jesus and worshipping freely. And at the end of service, as person after person — even whole households came up — to be baptized, and as children ands loved ones crept up as close as they could to the tank where this miraculous demonstration took place of begging lowered into the water and raised back up — there was great rejoicing, and love, and celebration, and community amongst diverse people who are family and friends in Christ.

I guarantee that every person there came in with something that could have been burdensome, offensive, or shameful if they had decided to carry it that way. It could have trapped them and torn them apart like the caught mice Mark Pangel described in his sermon. But Jesus…

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=304059347536238&id=298471230178311

Somehow all of this — from the waitress who had been done wrong by a mechanic the week before, to every challenge mentioned today — God weaved it all into a day of “True Worship”. And I saw people encouraged, touched, moved, and impacted for the glory of God — and I was one of them.

Because we saw people releasing their burdens instead of clinging to them. This isn’t the work of mere humans just choosing not to be disrespectful jerks to one another. This is the power of the Holy Spirit of God who lives in and through His children. There is a mighty move of God happening — and the fertile ground of challenge in this time is fostering both rapid growth ands rapid decay. Where sowing to the spirit is taking place, great territories in people’s hearts and lives and in those around them is bearing an amazing harvest. And where love is not abounding, bitterness, hatred, division, and all kind of wickedness is being revealed so clearly and distinctly in the light as being “of another kind”.

Do you see Christ at work mightily in this time?

Or have you been distracted by the noise?

Let’s reach that place of True Worship, and long to only leave that place, that mindset, that rest to acknowledge the glorious work set before us — amazing opportunities that to our eyes might seem clothed as trials, challenges, even suffering — but that our Spirit, confirmed by the Holy Spirit, knows are amazing testimonies, amazing worship, amazing opportunities for God to be glorified. Amen.