“It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives” – Philippians 1:15 (NLT)
Motorola Inc. is renowned for inventing the modern mobile phone. When asked about the inspiration behind this groundbreaking invention, their answer was simple: “freedom.” They envisioned a world where people could walk and talk freely, untethered by wires. Today, nearly 51 years later, we continue to enjoy that freedom.
This underscores a crucial truth: our motives drive every action. Once the motive is clear, the outcome becomes nearly foreseeable.
In our Christian walk, the “why” behind our actions is often more important than the “what.” The Bible repeatedly emphasises that God values the motives of our hearts above the mere outward appearance of our deeds. This principle is crucial for believers who strive to live a life that genuinely reflects Christ.
Apostle Paul emphasised the importance of love as the driving force behind our actions, noting in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 that even the most impressive acts are meaningless without love. Similarly, Jesus warned against performing religious acts for public approval in Matthew 6:1-4. He taught that giving, praying, and fasting should be done secretly, with the sole motive of pleasing God.
As we continue our series on making Christ known in secular spaces, believers must ask themselves, “Why is this important?” and “Why should we influence our secular world for Jesus?” The simple answer: Jesus commands it (Matthew 28:18-20).
Jesus was not ashamed to be found in secular spaces. In fact, it can be argued that Jesus spent more time outside the synagogue. He was either feasting with Matthew and Zacchaeus the tax collectors or purposely chatting with the Samaritan woman. All these encounters made some Jews scornful but Jesus was not deterred because he had a motive – that these people be converted and saved. In the end, he was successful.
Learn from Jesus and do not be afraid to proclaim the Gospel in your sphere of influence. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in the best strategy and steps. Let your actions be shaped by pure intentions, bringing glory to God (Romans 8:14, Galatians 5:16).
The rest of the world is vulnerable to the wrong message and teachings. Nature abhors a vacuum and if believers are not filling it up with the right content, others will saturate it with theirs. This is another solid reason believers must boldly and unashamedly speak the truth. We are at war for the souls of men. Our response as believers, must be to capture hearts away from the wrong hands.
Now that you know the “why”, will you boldly take actionable steps to influence your space? Jesus will have you do it because souls are counting on your obedience.
Bible Reading Plan: 1 Corinthians 5-6