Gary Crocker’s Blog

While we need to strive for pure motives, we must be careful that our introspection doesn’t keep us from action. It is possible to be so concerned about untainted motives, so focused on why we would do something, that we fail to respond to God’s leading or delay until an opportunity is missed. When we are prompted to action we need to proceed, being careful not to let over-analysis of our motivation hold us back. If we use the excuse that we weren’t properly motivated, we can develop a sense of sinful pride – claiming that our restraint is actually good because we didn’t proceed for the wrong reasons. Or it may simply be an excuse for laziness.

Our concern should be for the needs of others, whether we feel the right to be blessed by what we do for them or not. When we have the capability to help and we don’t, simply because we don’t think we are properly motivated, we sin. We need to stop over-analyzing and just do it.

As I was reading the parable of the Good Samaritan this morning, it occurred to me that the Samaritan was in hostile territory when he happened upon the injured man. The road from Jerusalem to Jericho was not the route between Jerusalem and Samaria. He was really in Jewish territory. Yet he, a despised stranger, had compassion and showed mercy to one who quite likely would not have done the same for him had the situation been reversed. Luke 10:25-37; John 4:9

Charles Stanley this morning in his series on the Ways of God spoke on the topic, “He Forgives Our Sin.” We typically listen to his InTouch telecast as we are getting ready for church on Sunday mornings.

What jumped out at me this morning was his relating the portion of the Model Prayer (aka The Lord’s Prayer) that asked, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us” (Matthew 6:12).

Dr. Stanley pointed out that we are asking the Father to forgive us in the same manner that we forgive others. So, if we are not forgiving someone, we are actually telling God not to forgive us. Our walk and fellowship with the Lord are therefore hindered. BTW, it doesn’t help to avoid saying the Lord’s Prayer. We are instructed to forgive just as Christ has forgiven us, Ephesians 4:32. So not forgiving others is disobedience. This is true whether they deserve or ask for that forgiveness.

You can review Dr. Stanley’s outline for this message on forgiveness by clicking here. There are other resources on the InTouch web site. I highly recommend it.