HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 231
page A229
Your attitude toward God is a good indicator of your motives toward others. You might
need someone else to give you an objective opinion, but if you are half-hearted in the way
you approach your relationship with God, chances are your motives toward others may be
more half-hearted and self-centered than they should be.
• PSA L M 2 6 :2 | Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart.
• PR O VE R B S 1 7 :3 | Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart.
Welcome God’s testing your motives. This gives you an opportunity to grow.
What are some right motives?
• E X O DU S 2 5 :2 | “Tell the people of Israel to bring me their sacred offerings. Accept the
contributions from all whose hearts are moved to offer them.”
• I SA I A H 1 1 :3 | He will delight in obeying the Lord.
To serve God simply because you want to.
• 2 K I NG S 2 :9 | When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can
do for you before I am taken away.” And Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double
share of your spirit and become your successor.”
To follow the example of a godly person because you want to live a more godly life.
• 2 C H R O NI C L E S 1 :1 0 | “Give me the wisdom and knowledge to lead them properly, for who
could possibly govern this great people of yours?”
• G A L AT I A NS 6 :4 | Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the
satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.
To do the right thing because it is right, not because it will benefit you or impress others.
PROMISE FROM GOD
• E Z E K I E L 3 6 :2 6 | “I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take
out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.”
Mourning See Grief
Neighbors See also Friendship; Hospitality; Love
Most of us think of our neighbors as the people who live next door or across the street.
Jesus’ teachings expand our neighborhood to involve anyone around us who needs his
love. This means not only the people who live near us but also the people next to us on
a plane, our coworkers, or the people in our town who are homeless. It is also important
to expand our neighborhood to people around the world who need the love of Christ.
When we begin to view people we see or meet or even hear about as our neighbors, we
can begin to establish the kind of relationships that allow us to share the love of Christ by
offering a helping hand. How will you treat your neighbors today?
Who is my neighbor?
• L U K E 1 0 :2 9 -3 7 | The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is
my neighbor?” Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem
down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat
him up, and left him half dead beside the road. . . . A priest came along . . . and passed
HelpFinder
To help others out of love for Jesus, not out of a desire for personal praise or as a way to
impress God.
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To grow in wisdom and knowledge in order to serve God more effectively.
• J O H N 2 1 :1 7 | A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was
hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You
know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.”