Listen

Our appeal isn’t based on false information, the wrong motives, or deception. Rather, we have been examined and approved by God to be trusted with the good news, and that’s exactly how we speak. We aren’t trying to please people, but we are trying to please God, who continues to examine our hearts. As you know, we never used flattery, and God is our witness that we didn’t have greedy motives.

1 Thessalonians 2:3-5

Think

So, why are you trying to serve God and others? What is your motive? Why do you do it? For God? Or for some prize?

Sometimes when we think about serving God, we need to call our motives into question. Paul certainly dealt with that in the early church, where people were serving in order to gain prestige and power.

Things haven’t changed much, huh? I remember a time one of my friends invited me to church. He said there was a dynamic youth pastor, that church was fun, that I would meet lots of girls, and it would be a blast. Well, when I arrived at church with my friend, I discovered that when he brought someone to church, he would get a star, and after so many stars his youth group would get a pizza party. He was motivated by the pizza! Does that sound right?

No way! Let us be motivated to serve out of faithfulness to the One who made us and loves us.

Andy Hart

Pray

Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a right spirit in me. As I serve you, let me do so with the motives of a faithful servant. Amen.

Go

Go in peace and serve the Lord.