God looks @ your heart!

Henry Blackaby tells the story of a very self-righteous man who prayed: ‘Lord, there’s something wrong. I read the Bible, pray regularly, attend church faithfully and always give to charity, yet I don’t have much. My brother doesn’t do any of these things, yet he’s got tons of money. How come you’ve given him so much and me so little?’ After a pause, a voice said, ‘Because you’re a sanctimonious pain in the neck!’ The Bible says, ‘…God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble’ (James 4:6 NKJV). God looks at your heart’s intent; He judges your motives. You can sit in church with a heart that’s far from God. The Israelites did (Isaiah 1:10-17). You can help the needy and still be greedy. Judas did (John 12:4-8 NIV). You can proclaim your love for Jesus yet be influenced by the devil. Peter did (Matthew 26:31-35 NIV). You can make sacrifices yet still be living in disobedience. King Saul did (1 Samuel 13:7-14 NIV). You can pray with the wrong motives. Some folks in the New Testament church did (James 4:3 NIV). You can even be a pastor who loves crowds but has no time for individuals. Check your heart! The Good Shepherd left His ninety-nine sheep to look for the one who was lost. Then He carried it home on His shoulders, rejoicing. ‘Motives are weighed by the Lord.’ God sees your heart. Everything you do must be motivated by love for Him and for others. So look beyond your actions to what lies behind them. Ask God to show you what He sees.