REVIEW YOUR MOTIVES

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Matthew 6:5 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

In criminal cases, the prosecution has the burden of proof and with that, a need to prove all the elements of an offence. In a murder trial, this means proving beyond reasonable doubt that there was means, opportunity and motive for the said crime to have been committed. The latter of these elements sits at the center of Jesus’ words today: ‘Motives’

In today’s message, Jesus does not speak against practising righteousness, prayer, fasting or giving; as it might appear, His focus was on the motives and intentions of people when they engaged in these activities.

We may be able to deceive the entire world including our very own selves with a facade, but ever so often we seem to forget that God judges the  hearts of men. He is able to see past any masks we put on. Saint James put it this way:

'And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure (James 4:3).

Beloved, we can do a lot of things, but our motives for doing them are really crucial in the long run. So let’s  review our motives.

#sly