Corona Devo 1684

How do we know if we are being authentic in our desires to serve the Lord today?  

Psst!  I found a little check-list in I Thessalonians, Chapter 2 to check-our-answers, and our hearts.  It outlines what God's messengers should be-motivated-by, and it also goes into detail about what we should not display.  

So you can see we were not preaching with any deceit or impure motives or trickery.  

(4) For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts. (5) Never once did we try to win you with flattery, as you well know.   ~I Thessalonians 2:3-5

~~~

Are we preaching with any deceit?  

Do we (ever) bend God's Word to suit our needs/arguments/or comfort?  Do we omit parts of the Bible that are not popular, or that contradict what is current in culture?  (If yes, then we are preaching with deceit.)

If we are not fully obeying God, then we are actively disobeying God, and preaching partially is preaching deceitfully.  

Can people "SEE" that we were not preaching with any deceit?  

Can we SAY that we were not preaching with any deceit?  

These are hard questions, and they require us to examine our hearts: why ARE we "being nice" to someone?  Is it to receive something in return?  Or is it out of pure motives and a pure heart? 

If we get our magnifying glass out, we might be surprised at what we find within our motives...and our hearts

~~~

And...beyond deceit, what is our motive in preaching about God?  Is it pure or impure?

Hold on a second...impure motives in relation to preaching?  Who would dare?  

Oops, maybe that's us sometimes.

Be honest.

Can we say: "Never once did we try to win you with flattery, as you well know."   ~I Thessalonians 2:5

A non-communicator might not relate flattery and trickery to preaching, but any of us who have attempted to share an idea, a concept, a business-proposition, or the Gospel...we know that flattery and trickery are timeless tools used to convince, interest, and influence people.  

Need an example?  Just ask the serpent in the Garden of Eden.  

~~~

But, God's Word does not need ANYTHING additional (on our part) in presenting it.  Our call is to preach the Good News in raw form, which may not please people, but our purpose is to please God, not people.

~~~

And what else... not to do when we are developing Godly friendships with others: Mooch for money.  

And God is our witness that we were not pretending to be your friends just to get your money! 

We are not being authentic for God if we are expecting a kick-back of any sort (or denomination).  

No prayers in the hopes of pennies-in-return.  And no (in any way) seeking to please people just to get their money.

This idea seems far-fetched initially, but look deeper and stay honest.  Do we (ever) look-to or even hope-for people to provide for us...instead of God?  

He (God) very clearly tells us to stop that.  

While we may require funds for the needs necessary in bringing the Gospel to others, we should look (only) to God for that provision, (which He very-well may bring through His people), but we must not be confused about God being our Provider.

~~~

Another major bullet on the "authentic-messengers" checklist involves an examination of our lives and how we share them.

Do we set ourselves on a high shelf, displaying our message and example of Christ for others to "view", or do we share God's Good news with others and share our own lives too?

This one is a difference maker, because authentic community-in-Christ makes the difference in sharing the Good News of Christ.  Let's be authentic for the Lord today:

As apostles of Christ we certainly had a right to make some demands of you, but instead we were like children among you. Or we were like a mother feeding and caring for her own children. (8) We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.... (11) And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children. (12) We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory.   ~I Thessalonians 2:7-8, 11-12

~~~

How do we know if we are being authentic in our desires to serve the Lord today, and why does any of it even matter?

Are we preaching/teaching with selfish motives or pure?  Are we pleasing God or pleasing men and women around us? 

And--Why does any of it even matter?

Because--he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory (I Thessalonians 2:12).
He sure did, Sister and Brother in Christ: He called you to share in his Kingdom and glory.  And for that matter...it matters.  All that we do (and why we do it) matters to God..

Step away from any impure motives or trickery today.  It matters.

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com  

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