Devotion for August 24, 2008

Check Your Motive

On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone—— however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks—— when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, "Rabbi, when did You come here? Jesus answered them and said, Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him. (John 6:22-27 NKJV)

Jesus had fed the 5000 with five loaves and two fish, a miracle that must have impressed the disciples. However, the masses were not moved by this display of divine power. They were moved by having their bellies filled.

Many seek to be saved from their trials, but only those seeking salvation from sin and its consequences have the right motive. Churches have a revolving door that turns non-stop with men and women who want their lives fixed. Broken relationships, financial problems, and substance abuse top the list. However, these are just surface issues that spring from a deeper, more serious source.

Broken relationships happen when people stop sacrificing for others. Financial problems usually occur when greed overtakes contentment. Substance abuse is just a way of not facing life’s issues. All of these are a result of sin, and the problem is that people want the fix without the solution. Therefore, people come into the church to prove to their spouse they have changed, and when that fails to get them what they want they leave. Others believe if they pray a prayer God is obligated to make everything perfect again, and when it’s not they leave.

My dear friend what is your motive in coming to Jesus? Do you see you are a sinner in need of cleansing? Are you willing to give up that loved one to have Jesus? Remember what Luke recorded, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26 NKJV). Jesus is making a point here; by comparison your desire for Jesus must be so focused that your desire for loved ones is like hatred. It is not that you are to hate them, but that you are to want Jesus more than any other thing or person.

Therefore, whether you came to Jesus 20 years ago or yesterday, check your motives. Is Jesus your Savior or your genie? Consider the following passage as you contemplate your answer.

When He had called the people to [Himself], with His disciples also, He said to them, ‘Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels’ (Mark 8:34-38 NKJV).