Experience vs. Relationship (Part 4)

Motives for crimes are easy -- money, sex, revenge...and little else. But motives for our actions toward God are complex, often we don't even know them ourselves. And even if we do know why we are doing something (or think we know), we really can't change our core motivations. Our motives simply reveal our heart.
For example, if I study my Bible because it makes me look smart in Sunday School -- I can't just flip a switch to make that not true...because pride is my sin nature. And I can't just stop studying my Bible -- because those are the words of life. So, what do I do?
Only One Person can change our "whys" and that's Jesus. He not only knows our deepest, darkest reasons -- but even better, He is able to reveal them to us and then remove our motives and replace them with His perfect purposes.
And if you are thinking, "Wow! Is that a process or what?" You nailed it. It's a miracle -- God's miracle that He chooses to work out in our lives through Christ. Is it any wonder then that we must abide in this relationship with Christ (John 15)? Not with merely all the "God-things", but in seeking relationship with Christ, asking for Him to change us and submitting to His hand as He does whatever He wants. As the old song says, "There's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."

Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.