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 Motive has to do with Why? It has to do with the state of our hearts. It is the unseen force that drives what we do and say. God told Samuel not to look at Eliab"s outward appearance because He looks at the heart. "Don"t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn"t make decisions the way you do! People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at a person"s thoughts and intentions." (1 Sam. 16:7 NLT). Moses killed an Egyptian in defence of a fellow Israelite, "for he supposed that his brethren would have understood that God would deliver them by his hand, but they did not understand" (Acts 7:24,25). Though Moses had a genuine call, God still had to purify his motive. He had to flee from Egypt and for forty years, he was in the wilderness before God called him to go deliver His people. Joseph interpreted the dream of the Butler and said to him "But remember me when it is well with you and please show kindness to me, make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house" (Gen. 40:14). Joseph spent two more years in the prison. The Butler completely forgot about him until Pharaoh had a dream. I call that divine! We get disappointed because we do things out of wrong motives. "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself." (Php. 2:3) God wants to purify our motives. He is like a refiner"s fire and like launderers" soap. "He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver, He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the LORD an offering in righteousness" (Mal. 3:2-3).

Wisdom Key: Allow God to purify your heart and your motives for doing things

Memory Verse: "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner"s fire and like launderer"s soap. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the LORD an offering in righteousness." (Mal. 3:2-3)

Personal Application: How can we find out what our true motives are?