Ulterior Motives

"...For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." -1 Samuel 16:7b

We wrestle with skepticism every day. Every relationship we hold carry varying levels of distrust and unsettling questions. Are people really who they say they are? Do our friends really care about us or are they working an angle for our affection, our contacts, our knowledge? Our church offers programs for the community and it always seems people believe we have another goal: baptisms. Everyone knows there is no free lunch, so why would someone talk to me unless they wanted something?

I believe we are wary of others' motives because we recognize selfish motive in ourselves from time to time. I heard on K-Love this afternoon a thought: People see what you do; God knows why you do it. God knows why I seek friendships with the people I do. God knows why I give tithe and offering and why I give the amount I give. God knows why I go, or don't go, to church. God knows why I say what I say and act the way I act with people. God knows my motives even when I don't realize them. God sees everything about me and understands the foundation of it all. I cannot hide from God.

That's heavy. God knows me better than I know myself. My thoughts are not secret. My heart is not shrouded in mystery. Even when I put on the brave, smiling face, God sees my terror-stricken, lonely, anxious heart. There is certainly comfort in His understanding.

Not only does He know me, He knows everyone I meet, greet, sweet and beat. He's looking out for me. He'll guard my heart, if I allow Him. He'll build strong, trust-filled relationships for me, if I allow Him. He'll place the walls of skepticism up at the right time, if I allow Him. He will keep me safe.

Our relationship with Christ is not supposed to be about gaining worldly wealth or even a heavenly home. It's about having a friend closer than a brother or sister. It's about having a relationship without skepticism, dishonesty, distrust or anxiety. It's a relationship free of ulterior motives.

Beatitudinal Adjustment: The Poor in Spirit

Matthew 5:3 - "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

We start an 8-part series on the Beatitudes in my district this month. So every week I'll share thoughts on the next Beatitude in the series.

Matthew is significant as a gospel writer as he depicts Christ as King of kings. Throughout Matthew the phraseology reflects the kingdom of heaven and the coming rulership of Jesus. As Matthew 5 opens, the famous Sermon on the Mount places Jesus in a parallel with Moses on Mount Sinai in the mind of the Jewish reader. Jesus prepares to expound upon the Testimonies given at Sinai without changing them. It should be noted that in Matthew 7:28 the people sit in awe of Jesus and the authority He speaks with just as the children of Israel were in awe of Moses after he spoke with God.

Jesus begins His sermon by speaking blessings upon the people. He starts with "the poor in spirit." The contemporary culture of Jesus' day saw poverty as a curse from the gods. They were ostracized, marginalized and often given lower positions (if any) during worship services or mealtimes. Jesus begins to tear down this misconception. In the eyes of Christ wealth and positions of grandeur are greater burdens than poverty and little or no authority. (see Matthew 19:21-24)

Rather than trumpeting our outward, temporal successes, Christians are called to a life of self-denial, introspection, and humility before The Holy God. Take Isaiah 66:1-2, for example.

"Thus says the LORD: 'Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist,' says the LORD. 'But on this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.'"

God is not interested in how big and beautiful we can build our churches/temples/shrines/monuments in honor of Him. God already made the heavens and the earth and they serve as a much greater throne and footstool than we could ever build or even design/dream. The LORD is looking for people who recognize they are "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." (Revelation 3:17)

Christ's message stands in perfect contrast to the teaching of the proud Pharisees and pious Scribes of old. His message still stands against the common empty teachings of today. You are most successful in life when you are humbled by your sinfulness and lying face down before Jesus Christ.

Jesus came to show God's compassion to the poor and suffering (both physically and spiritually). He removed the wall of to the Most Holy place of the heavenly sanctuary allowing all to approach the throne of grace. He showed us the accessibility of God. He took, and still takes, the lowest of the low and raises them to the lofty heights of the Most High.

He opened the gates of heaven for you. What will you do about it?


"And he brought them out and said, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?'
"So they said, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.'"
(Acts 16:30-31)

New Devotion

Devotion: profound dedication; consecration; earnest attachment to a cause, person, etc.
Synonyms: zeal, ardor, love
(www.dictionary.com)


The North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists Ministerial Department sent me a devotional book for the new year. It's The Chosen written by Pastor Dwight Nelson. My normal thoughts regarding "devotional" books is not one of excitement or anticipation. In fact, though I often struggle with direction in my personal study time, devotional books rarely provide an effective personal worship experience or even worthwhile springboard into further study. I have only found one daily devotional I have truly liked.


Still, I knew I needed a jumpstart in 2012 to my personal worship time. The first three days of The Chosen have been fantastic reminders of who we are in the eyes of God. More importantly for me, who I am in the eyes of God. Regardless of my life experiences (mistakes, choices, victories, social status, etc, etc) I am a child of God who He chose. I am alive because God wanted, and still wants, me to be alive.


God wants my devotion. He wants my profound dedication and consecration to Him. He has demonstrated the dedication and consecration to me He hopes for me to return. And, He is willing and able to help me achieve the desired result. Call it zeal, ardor, love. Call it what you will. But God is earnestly attaching Himself to us. Maybe it's time we returned the favor.

The Question of Church

Why do we go to church? Do we go because we have to? Do we go because that's why we have always gone? Do we go to a certain church because our family does? Do we attend a certain denominational congregation because it's comfortable?

I have read recently about how the religious leaders during the days of Jesus had lost the point of their ceremonies and worship services. They intended to acquire the kingdom of heaven through ceremonies and traditional practices. Or they hoped to attain salvation by association with a synagogue or specific leaders.

How are we any different?

Sometimes I wonder just how effective "church" really is anymore. The building is nice to gather in, but there are so many arguments about maintaining, cleaning and paying the utilities for it. And heaven help us if we ever discuss a building project.

Then, of course, there is the services offered at the church building. Here again we find disagreement and contention about when the elements of "traditional" worship should take place. Who decided there was only one acceptable order of service and what elements were required for it to "count" as a church service? Once again, heaven help us if changes are talked about.

The most difficult aspect of church is the people. It's my sincere (tongue-in-cheek) belief that church would be way better without all the people. Can't church just be me sitting by myself? I'll preach myself a little sermon, take an offering for my own building (ala - rent/mortgage), sing a few songs, pray and on I go. Of course, this is the post modern version of church. This leads to zero theological arguments. No one will be mad about what was or wasn't served at potluck. I can only get mad at myself for stepping on my own proverbial toes with some misunderstood or misinterpreted comment I made about, and to, myself. I will never be voted out of church leadership because I am the only member of the board/nominating committee/pastoral team/search committee and, well, you get the point.

I do not believe a person will be saved because their name is on the right church's membership record. I do not believe a person will be saved because they returned their 10% tithe on exactly their gross income rounded up to the nearest thousandth. I do not believe a person will be saved because they refused to say the nasty things about the other church members directly to their faces but instead saved it for their little cliques or let it rot in their proverbial gut until their bitterness reaches a nearly incurable level. I do not believe church has been seen the way God meant for it to be seen.

There is a reason God told us not to forsake gathering together with like believers. (Hebrews 10:25) I believe it leads to a further perfection of our character. Navigating personal relationships, or the lack thereof, at church (or anywhere else) requires us to wrestle with our own shortcomings. Some of us decide to ignore our own and point out (or make up) shortcomings of others. It's less of a hassle to harass others than deal with our own withering souls.

God doesn't need the church in order to save people or tell the world about Himself. But He chooses to use the church to tell the world about salvation and gives them the church to edify and build them up. He intends for the church to encourage them and extend unfailing love. (Boy have we REALLY missed the mark on that for the most part!)

I could have written this far more eloquently and taken a much deeper look at the theology of church or the history of church, but ultimately it comes down to whether or not church is worth the effort. The way I understand Scripture right now I see God providing an entity which can, and eventually will, be the greatest blessing to common, normal, hurting people. There are days we will wonder why we stick around. There will be days we wish the Lord would give us the offer He gave Moses at Mount Sinai ("I will destroy the Israelites and start over with you, Moses.") But for now our best option is to pray like never before for the Holy Spirit to change hearts, beginning with your own.