God Is Looking at Us?

The Bible tells us the Lord, looks on all the inhabitants of the earth. (Ps. 33:14b NKJV)

Are we happy that God is looking at us? Are we so sure of His love—and so sure of His ability to help us—that we rejoice in His care? Or do we resent His attention? Do we try to suppress the true motives of our heart? Do we think of Him as a taskmaster who robs us of fun?

These are important questions. When we try to hide motives, even from ourselves, we do not fool God. He understands us better than we understand ourselves. He knows all about anything and everything we might try to hide.

But He does not look at us because He is a taskmaster who insists we meet certain obligations. He does it as the one who offers forgiveness and salvation. He does it because He is our source of joy. The psalmist explains, Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name. (v. 20,21)

Originally published March 27, 1992.

If He Withholds

Life can be unfair. Look at the Biblical character named Job. Although he was a righteous man, he lost his children and vast material possessions. Then God allowed Satan to afflict him with boils covering his entire body.

After a long discussion between Job and his friends, God returned Job to health and prosperity on all counts—even gave him additional children. But between the time when his world came crashing down and when his world was restored, God took Job on an inner journey. While sitting on the ash heap—nursing his sores—he examined his motives and the nature of his God—the God who allowed so great a misfortune.

One thing was certain: God was (and is) sovereign. Job said, If He [God] breaks a thing down, it cannot be rebuilt; if He imprisons a man, there can be no release. If He withholds the waters, they dry up . . . He uncovers deep things out of darkness, and brings the shadow of death to light. . . . (Job 12, 14-13:1)

Originally published February 9, 1990.

"Give Me this Power"

Philip the Evangelist went to Samaria to tell the people about Jesus the Christ. When the people responded to his message, many were healed from their afflictions and set free from demonic spirits.

A fellow living in Samaria named Simon the Sorcerer also believed key facts about Jesus. He submitted to baptism and then followed right alongside Philip, amazed when he saw the many miracles and signs. (Acts 8:13) But although actively involved in God’s work, Simon’s heart remained impure. He still loved the power he had exercised as a sorcerer, and now he wanted to exercise power under Jesus.

It all came to a head when Peter came to help Philip. After Simon the Sorcerer saw Peter laying hands on individuals so they might receive the Holy Spirit, Simon tried to get in on the action by offering money. He said to Peter, "Give me this power also. . . ." (v. 19 NKJV)

And at that point Peter received a revelation of Simon’s motives. "Your money perish with you. . . ." he said. (v. 20a) And, "your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent. . . ." (v. 21b)

We do not know what happened to Simon the Sorcerer, but he did ask for prayer "that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me." (v. 24b)

Originally published May 6, 1988.
Picture: Lilacs long the Red River of the North, Wahpeton/Breckenridge, 2009. Photo by Solveig.

Virtue Without Love?

Paul put the emphasis on love as the motivation for all other virtues. After providing a long list of desirable qualities—including virtues such as mercy, humility, helping each other, forgiving, etc.—he said, But above all these things put on love. . . . (Col 3:14a NKJV)

Paul understood that false virtues can be self-serving. Acts of mercy and kindness can be done because we’re proud. If that happens, are they still acts of mercy or kindness? Humility without love becomes ingratiating. Meekness without love becomes weakness. Longsuffering without love becomes bitterness. And so it goes with virtue stemming from distorted motives.

Love purifies motives. Because God is love, He is our source for genuine love—and our source for genuine virtue. If you then were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above . . . And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. (3:1a,17a)

When we look to Jesus with our spiritual eyes, we see His love, His virtue. When we walk with Jesus, we walk in His love and His virtue.

Originally published March 20, 1987.
Picture: Flowers in Puerto Rico, 2002. Photo by Patty.

A Type of War

When we decide to follow God, many aspects of our lives change because our desires and goals change. Nevertheless, deposits of the former life remain hidden deep in our hearts. Although we might try to forget them, those former desires and goals will hang around to trouble us.

God knows all about holdovers from our past. He can arrange circumstances to remind us of hidden motives—bring them to our conscious minds. When this happens, we experience a type of war. Paul described it this way: For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate I do . . . What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? (Rom. 7:15,24 NKJV)

Every Christian is acquainted with the struggle. But just as God knows how to expose hidden motives, He knows how to help us deal with them. When we walk with Him, we know we’re forgiven and acceptable in His eyes. This gives us courage, and it causes us to respond to Him. Then He somehow works to bring about internal change.

Through the struggle, we can rest because we know His promise. [T]here is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus [who] set me free from the law of sin and death. (Rom. 8:1,2b)

Originally published July 21, 1989.

Motives of the Heart

Parables are often hard to understand, but if we think deeply about them, they reveal hidden motives of the heart.

Jesus told about two sons. Their father asked both to work in a vineyard. The first said no—but worked anyway. The second said yes—but did not work.

Torn between obedience and personal desires, the first son responded poorly. Nevertheless, in the end he did the right thing.

The second son might have thought his motives were right. Perhaps he desired to work until he was distracted. Most likely, however, he deceived himself. Had his love been pure, nothing could interfere with keeping his word.

When Jesus asked the religious leaders which son did the father’s will, they knew the right answer and they replied, The first. Yet Jesus was comparing them to the second son. They served God with their mouth—not with their heart.

Assuredly, said Jesus, tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. (Mt. 21:31b NKJV)

Oirignally published February 5, 1988.
Picture: Flower in Arizona desert, 2008. Photo by Patty.

In Full Assurance

The blood of Jesus makes it possible for believers to enter the presence of God. The writer of Hebrews emphasized this when he said, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus. (Heb. 10:19 NKJV)

That doesn’t mean we approach God casually or flippantly. We will never have the right to approach God on our own merits, because we’re sinners who are naturally unacceptable before a perfect, righteous God. To come before God we must somehow get rid of our sin.

It's the blood of Jesus that does this impossible task for us. If we receive Him in our hearts, His blood covers our sin. And then the life of Jesus even begins to cleanse our motivations—to overcome our inner compulsions to sin.

When covered by the blood of Jesus we can come to God, in full assurance . . . having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. . . He who promised is faithful. (v. 22b,23b)

Originally published August 11, 1989.
Picture: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2008. Photo by Solveig.

Branches on the Vine

Jesus compared Himself to a vine and His disciple to branches on a vine. He said that if we abide in Him, we’ll bear much fruit. (Jn. 15:5 NKJV)

The kicker is that the branches of a vine are dependent upon their vine for sustenance. So Christians must depend upon Jesus. If we go elsewhere for strength or support—whether to people, institution, or even our own inner resources—we receive something that doesn’t support the life of Christ.

We need the life of Christ to sustain vital spiritual growth. Jesus explained, the branch cannot bear fruit of itself . . . If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch. . . . (vs. 4b, 6a)

What a frightening prospect. However, along with the admonition, we receive a promise. When we abide in Him, our desires are continuously refined or purified because we are receiving from Him. Jesus also said, ask what you desire and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified. (v. 7a,8a)

Originally published October 16, 1987.

To the One who Hears and Answers

We’ve all heard the phrase, All we can do is pray. When we say that, it seems we view prayer as something of little significance, a last resort. We try it when other avenues are exhausted.

The Bible tells us prayer is a vital force. It says good things happen when people turn to God in prayer. It tells us that even if our hearts are wrong, full of selfish demands, He can change us when we come into His presence. God can humble us so we’ll actually become ready to receive His answer to prayer!

The psalmist cried, O you who hear prayer, to you all men will come . . . You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth. . . . (Ps. 65: 2,5 NKV)

During times when important national decisions are at stake, we look to God. Only He knows what lies ahead and only He can truly judge the heartbeat and the hearts of the people.

It’s time to pray—to the One who hears and answers.

Originally published November 4, 1988.

Picture: Flower in Hawaii, 2004. Photo by Patty.