Motive

mo·tive:  ˈmōdiv/

noun: motive; plural noun: motives

    1.  a reason for doing something, especially one that is hidden or not obvious.

    "a motive for his murder"

    synonyms:     reason, motivation, motivating force, rationale, grounds, cause, basis, object, purpose, intention;

Motive, quite a word. Almost as if it has a motive of its own. To encourage us to look deeper, to discover it, uncover it. Just as interesting as the discovery, can be what it was hidden under in the first place!

I love words, puzzles, mysteries….all of that ‘looking beyond the obvious’ stuff. Which brings the question of, why don’t we humans like to dig for our own motives? The very definition says that it is “hidden or not obvious.”

That doesn’t mean everyone else’s is hidden and our very own is obvious to us! The Psalmist wrote, 

Look deep into my heart, God, and find out everything I am thinking. Psalm 139:23

If I had cherished sin in my heart,
    the Lord would not have listened

Psalm 66:18

The irony is, we have motives behind not wanting to know our own motives. Thankfully, we have the One we can trust to be our very own Motive Revealer.

One of the ways He reveals things to us is thru His Word. There is a particular reading/study method that I like and it is really easy. Select a passage that you would like to read, like  a chapter or parable, then you do these 4 steps.

1 ~ Read the passage just to familiarize yourself with the people, places, setting or event.

2 ~ Read it again, this time paying attention to whatever may seem to stick out to you. Sometimes this is a verse, or just one word.

3 ~ Read again, this time praying as you go. Ask God just what it is He wants to show/teach you from that word, or phrase. I like to read the same passage in different versions, or grab a dictionary to help with meanings. Always take notes and journal through this.

4 ~ Read again, and this time ask God to show you what He wants you to take from it…meaning, what “new” thing can you take into your life to help you grow closer to Him.  Pray for an epiphany!

I hope you’ll try it and explore some familiar passages and see what God has for you there! This reading process is what I am doing in 1 Thessalonians …

God was pleased to trust us with His message. We didn’t speak to please people, but to please God who knows our motives.

I Thessalonians 2:4 ~ CEV

I think this is one of those wonderful connect-the-dots kinda verses, especially when prayed like this, working back thru it:

What are my motives, Lord? You know them, reveal and set me on a path that pleases You. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart please You. That this vessel pour out Your message to those You place in my path and my days be pleasing to You.

That places us at the heart of verse 12 ~

 We begged, encouraged, and urged each of you to live in a way that would honor God. He is the one who chose you to share in his own kingdom and glory.

Remember step 2 from above? Well, I didn’t get stopped by a word or phrase, I was stuck on the dot! Staring at that period between “God” and “He”…just staring. Then it hit me!…to live in a way that would honor God, because He is the One who has chosen us to share in His kingdom. There is our motive! It lies in the “dot”; That pause of the period allows a breath and then our motive comes clear. Take Him in, fill up, “because” it is not our works, not our choices, not our thoughts ~ but right there between “…honor God. He is the one…”  That it is…all the motive of our soul, every beat of our heart ~ for HE is the ONE.

Live to honor the One who chose us, what a gift! The forever gift of grace. It is more that we can take in. To live with, to walk in every moment with God because we are chosen.

You alone are our glory and joy!

I Thessalonians 2:20 ~ CEV