Motives: Purpose: Prayers and Poetry

                                                Motives

                                                “Let go

                                                And know

                                                That I am God”

                                                scripture reminds us.

                                                Yet still we

                                                hesitate at words

                                                that sting

                                                reminding us our

                                                motives may not be His.

                                                Let go

                                                And listen

                                                To His truth,

                                                spread words of hope

                                                healing

                                                that mends brokenness.

Psalm 18:8, “Smoke went up out of His nostrils, And fire from His mouth devoured; Coals were kindled by it.”

Submission: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Romans 8:7

“For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law—indeed it cannot.”

Several musicians have used the phrase “puppet on a string” in their songs to express their helplessness to resist the love that entangles them whether for good or not.

We often can have an instinctive reaction to any other form of submission too, especially if we have experienced any cruelty emotionally or physically. The human drive for self power instills a caution to protect ourselves from any hint of perceived servility.

So even when gifts of love and grace and hope and new beginnings are expressed we hesitate. What will it cost us? Are there any hidden motives? What are the risks? Why do I have to give up part of myself? We want to stay in control or think we are in control. Even though we are often not, but don’t recognize the influence our inner cravings and threats already have over us.

We cannot break the cords on our own. But we can choose who will control them.

Submission is not the enemy when given to the Spirit’s knowledge and strength and protective love. Then our minds and hearts are sustained by truth even in the darkest moments of our lives. When we are weak, He is strong for us.

We are never left alone. If we wander away we are found. Always. With healing.

Lord, please give us Your boldness to submit to Your law in trust and thankfulness for Your sacrifice.

Psalm of Worship: Proverbs 8:6

“Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right.”

Reflection: Thyatira: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     When have you personally seen or experienced authority in the church misused?

2.     What did it do to your faith? To others around you?

3.     In what ways can honest love, faith, service, and patient endurance conquer false motives and teachings?

Share: What do you need to “hold fast” to today?

Thyatira: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Revelation 2: 18-28

“And all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts…. hold fast to what you have until I come.”

Fire consumes but also purifies.

In California there are several places where forest fires have ravaged Redwood groves and yet still many of these giant trees survived, now bearing their scorched markings blended with new growth.

Jesus brings His fire into our hearts to reveal false teachings. Too often taught as a hidden agenda by those we assume have authority.

His fire also helps us to clarify our own motives for works. Does the desire to work come from true compassion, or to fulfill an obligation, or to look good to others? Sometimes real purpose gets swallowed up in reputation and competition for attention—both personally and publicly.

It takes courage for any worship community to seek clarity and change steps if necessary. It takes commitment to stand against lies that can infest and destroy truth. It requires a battle to conquer when evil is unmasked.

“Hold fast” Jesus says. He is coming—He will bring His authority into the circumstances. If we are willing to ask—to listen—to follow—to obey.

Lord, please keep all Your churches true to the works You choose for each to do. Give each Your words to purify our motives.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 27:13

“I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Motives

Plans laid.

New government

brought anticipation

hope rippled

through population

no longer considered

an oddity

but a real nation

king and all.

Presumed God agreed

best plan for justice

gambled away heart for assimilation.

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

1 Samuel 12:14, “If you will fear the Lord and serve him and heed his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God, it will be well; but if you will not heed….”

Samuel administered justice under God’s guidance. It was a personal relationship, which Samuel then extended to the people. Trustful—honest—loving—kind—accountable.

Even as the people insisted Samuel replace himself by asking God to give then a king, they openly announced that he had never defrauded them or oppressed them. His administration of justice was in reality not the issue. Israel wanted to be like the other nations, wanted to be under a king. Perhaps wanted less personal scrutiny, less accountability. Like a toddler turns his back on a parent in the mistaken assumption they cannot see what his is doing.

Still loving, Samuel gave the warning. Without God’s voice present justice could be compromised, all might not be well. And they dismissed his concerns. The underlying motives took priority.

Sometimes I wonder how often we too bow to our own personal desires, personally and publicly, over the Lord’s commands and cloak it all under progress. Pretend—ignore—avoid—the hint of wrong motives.

Please keep reminding us Lord, that only in Your words can a real relationship grow into honest justice. Only by Your power can we become truly personal to one another in truth.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 89:14

“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Thy throne;

Lovingkindness and truth go before Thee.”

Leaving Egypt Behind

Scripture: Exodus 16:20, But they did not listen to Moses, and some left part of it until morning, and it bred worms, and became foul; and Moses was angry with them.

Suspicion seeps into our thoughts distorting our relationships, our energy and our mental health. It casts a shadow over all activities. We begin to wonder if others truly say what they mean. Are they hiding secrets from us? Do they have ulterior motives? Unchecked, suspicion can lead us into mental illness.

Some Israelites could not trust what they saw in tangible form. Was it real, was it true, would it disappear? Did God have any ulterior motives? Maybe this was all a plot to lead them deeper into the wilderness, then desert them.

Soon distrust produces disobedience. “To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.” Worms of bitterness breed roots inside us.

Who don’t I trust, Lord, You or me? Why when You answer prayers and show me Your love, do I suddenly watch for the downside, or the other shoe to drop? Forgive my rude response to Your generosity. Forgive me for attaching to You my own diseased motives. Keep me, Lord, from worms of suspicion.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 40:4

How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust,

And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.