Assessing Motives

Unfortunately Christians these days routinely and confidently assert their supposed insight into the thoughts and motives of those with whom they disagree. God’s people are regrettably mirroring the practice of the world by all too often claiming to know what others are thinking. While it is common to routinely impugn motives, the Bible prohibits such arrogant judgments. We may be told to adjudicate words and actions (cf. 1Cor.5:11-13; 6:2-5; et al.), but we cannot possibly judge someone else’s motives. When it comes to “why” someone did what he or she did, the Bible affirms what should be obvious to all: “no one knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him” (1Cor.2:11). Paul says that when it comes to another’s motives we must “wait until the Lord comes” when Christ “will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts” (1Cor.4:5). So let us refrain from saying we know “why” he or she did or said this or that, and let us only deal with ourselves regarding motives. Let us each spend more time allowing the convicting word of God to expose the “thoughts and intentions” of our own hearts as we prepare for the Lord’s arrival (Heb.4:12). Transgressing God’s word in this matter and engaging in accusing one another based on the speculative guesswork of appraising one another’s motives can only lead to trouble.

--Pastor Mike

God's Truth

The Bible is full of severe and hard realities. Its propositions aren’t fuzzy or soft; they’re strong, stern and unambiguous. Its heroes aren’t hailed for being sensitive and emotional; they’re lauded for being principled, unyielding, zealous warriors who unapologetically stand up for what is right. Its assessments and judgments do not oscillate based on feelings, sentiments, syndromes or disorders. The strategies of today’s defense attorneys, which sway acquiescent juries would never have worked for Israel’s ruling elders, the New Testament’s apostles, Church history’s councils, and they certainly will not work at the forthcoming Great White Throne Judgment. Like many other things that we’d prefer to be more malleable, but by nature cannot be, the truth is what it is and God’s revealed instructions are not up for negotiation. Yes, there is grace for sinners, but God’s mercy and grace are dispensed according to his clearly prescribed terms. The Bible is replete with warnings about the futility of gambling on the hope that what God has inscribed is transient, provincial, or mere suggestion. So don’t allow our culture’s relativistic droning impair your sobriety or diminish your respect for the absolute truthfulness of God’s truth.

For more sermons and devotionals on God's Truth, please go to the Focal Point Ministries website at www.focalpointministries.org

Amazing Grace

The doctrine of God’s grace reminds us that not only do we not deserve God’s love and forgiveness, but we actually deserve nothing from God but his exacting judgment. And not the kind of judgment which we would incur were we to sin against a fellow citizen, some high ranking diplomat, or even an exalted and holy angel. Our so-called “mistakes”, “impulsive acts”, “foibles” and “unfortunate oversights” are nothing less than treason against God’s eternal kingdom and our own personal assault against the Creator’s righteous standards of conduct. In a day when most secretly believe they deserve God’s love and find little real fault within themselves, holding forth the Bible’s definitions of holiness and grace may sound like a ludicrous and scandalous rant by self-loathing zealots. But God’s grace must be truthfully upheld even in an age that doesn’t care to hear it. Yes, the masses may still periodically sing about “Amazing Grace” and parrot words about being “blind and lost wretches” in need of salvation, but few seem to actually believe it. As long as our culture continues to hide behind a growing list of excuses for our transgressions and sins, and fails to see God’s forgiveness as an inexplicable act of mercy, then we will never begin to realize just how undeserved and amazing the doctrine of grace actually is.