Proverbs 16:2 (NLT)
“People may be pure in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their motives.”

The Mirage of “Self Purity”

It is dangerously easy to feel like you are right and still be dead wrong. We have a natural ability to justify our actions, package our preferences as “the will of God,” and present an outward appearance of innocence. However, God is not distracted by the “packaging.” He examines the heart.
The Lord judges us based on why we act even more than how we act. He bypasses the performance to see the purpose. If the motive is corrupted, the result is tainted—no matter how spiritual it looks to the public.

The Practice

Searching the Secret Places

1. The “Right” Seven-Point Check
You must hold your intentions up to the light of the Word. A fresh start requires you to perform a rigorous diagnostic on your decisions. If any of these seven are “off,” your spiritual alignment is broken:
 * Am I doing the Right Thing?
 * Am I doing it the Right Way?
 * Am I doing it for the Right Reason?
 * Am I expecting the Right Results?
 * Am I benefiting others?
 * Who will get the glory?
 * Am I acting according to God’s Word?
2. The Sincerity Trap
Sincerity is not the same as Truth. You can be sincerely wrong. I have often believed I was being sincere, only to discover through the Holy Spirit that I was actually acting out of self-interest or a need for validation. You must regularly invite God to perform “heart surgery.” Ask Him: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” (Psalm 139:23)
3. The Courage to Correct
Once God reveals a polluted motive, don’t just sit in the conviction—go fix it. Confess the wrong motive to the Lord, and if necessary, go to the person involved. Even if it was “just a misunderstanding,” have the humility to admit your misdeed. James 5:16 tells us to confess our sins to one another so we may be healed. There is a specific kind of healing that only comes when we are honest about our “shrewdness.”

Today’s Declaration

“I am not the final judge of my own purity. I invite the Lord to examine my motives and expose my self-interest. I will not hide behind my good deeds while harboring wrong intentions. I choose to do the right thing, the right way, for the right reason, expecting the right result, to benefit others and glorify God according to His word.”

God is looking past your “presentation” to your “purpose.” Today is a great day to make a Fresh Start!
God bless,
+Pastor Kris