A motive is the reason to do a certain thing, or simply put, a reason for an action. Usually a motive asks what we can gain by doing a specific thing. In other words, “What’s in it for me?” We all seem to be hard wired for this way of thinking. It is viewed by psychiatrists as a logical tool for self preservation. Yet true Christian living requires that all that we do should be done selflessly. For the true Christian motives are everything. Nevertheless, it can be a hard thing to determine a person’s true motives, even our own.
Pure motives require introspection and prayer. Since God can’t be patronized or conned, true prayer can’t or shouldn’t be flowery, shallow or meaningless words. Our Heavenly Father wants us to pray in Spirit and Truth. All too often we Christians only mouth sweet sounding words that are designed to entrance, deceive and justify a particular action, especially when praying in front of others. More often than not, we want to be seen as paragons of the faith. We want or need the affirmation of others. But like David, we should ask to have God search our hearts to see if there be anything amiss in our motives toward Him. In this respect David was a man after God’s own heart. True repentance, should be paramount in our introspection. “The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.” He knows our motives and the intent of our heart.
On the other hand, there are those who whimper in dread and fear because they haven’t developed a close relationship with the Father of lights. They have a problem in trying to reconcile their motives to what God requires of us. First that God is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. When we fret and cry without reason in the presence of our Heavenly Father it is usually due to lack of understanding of the scriptures, which give us hope and assurance and an intimate knowledge of the goodness of the God of heaven and earth. These people fear Him, and rightfully so, but once love and trust is established they can be open and talk to Him without dread. Then they can come boldly to His throne of Grace, fearlessly saying Abba Father!
The more we know of Him the more we understand his ways and what pleases Him. We can only know these things when we study the Holy Scriptures. That’s why it is imperative to read and study the bible as often as possible. There isn’t any need to jump up and down, stomp and wail for His presence, you don’t have to fall on the floor and spin around on your back like a dying cockroach, or try to reach him on tiptoes with hands extended toward the heavens.
When you know our Heavenly Father intimately you have peace, assurance of salvation and hope, even in the face of adversity. The more we know of Him the more fearless and joyful we become.
So what are your motives? If you think God is a means of making money or achieving fame and recognition you are only deceiving yourself. You will have to answer to the Almighty sooner or later, so please don’t go there.
“Take notice, you senseless ones among the people; you fools, when will you become wise? Does He who fashioned the ear not hear? Does He who formed the eye not see?”
By the way,
I realize that today’s movies and even television are being used by the evil one to the destruction of humanity. Morals and sexual purity are shredded and homosexuality is becoming the norm in today’s society. Decent entertainers and entertainment are hard to come by these days. Even the Disney star “Hanna Montana” (Miley Cyrus) rails against her parents religious beliefs with outspokenness, using the F bomb repeatedly, and displaying her female lover openly. Her parents must be devastated.
My criteria for a worthwhile film or production is: what is the redeeming value and/or what have I learned. Maybe the redeeming value is only a momentary respite from the reality of the evil days in which we live, after all we need to laugh and be entertained once in a while.
Trying to make a decent and meaningful evangelical film is the hardest thing I’ve ever tried to do, and I’ve always excelled in everything I’ve put my hand to. But Satan has kept me from advancing this agenda. However, I can now see the good in having been stalled, as now I can mention Isis in my screenplay and also the deterioration of our God ordained laws in our beloved land as well, things that have only begun to happen openly in the past couple of years. This ought to make people aware of the evil times in which we live, the last days.
I’m on facebook now in preparation for appearing on the crowd funding website Indiegogo. Check it out and feel free to write me.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
YBIC
Jim Torres “Towers”