It’s an old cliché for an actor to ask “What’s my motivation?” But it is an important question. An actor may read lines and think his character is angry, while the director may believe the character to be exaggerating or making a joke or something else entirely.
Here’s your question of the day:
WHAT IS GOD’S MOTIVATION?
Why does God keep rescuing Israel? Why does He deliver these recidivist idol worshippers over and over? Consider the United States. If you were praying for God to bless America, why should He? What is His motivation? Are we a good nation? Do we live righteous lives? Does our criminal justice system treat victims and defendants fairly? Do we glorify God with our free time? Does America—the richest nation in history—honor God with its riches? Does our military honor God? Do our politicians honor God? Do our businesses honor God? (I would answer “no” or “barely” to most of these questions.) Has our nation blessed God? Why should God bless us?
“It is not for your sake that I will act, house of Israel, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went. I will honor the holiness of My great Name…. The nations will know that I am Yahweh when I demonstrate My holiness through you in their sight” Ezekiel 36:22-23.
God’s motivation is
HIS NAME.
He will honor His own reputation. God says He will bless Israel because blessing Israel will demonstrate His character to other nations. Does this promise apply to the United States? No. America is not Israel. But to the extent that Americans are seeking to honor God’s name, we can certainly pray that He will bless us and the land in which we live.
Do we honor God’s name? Consider your words. Step one—don’t use His name as an insult or a cuss word (obviously). Step two—don’t give God credit for saying something to you that you are not ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN He said. American Christians have a terrible habit of carelessly saying “God led me…” and using God’s name to make our own choices sound more respectable. Preachers invoke God’s name when they want people to give more money for some project—whether God is in it or not. Does that honor His Name? Politicians “find religion” around election time and use churchy language to garner votes. Does that honor God’s Name?
Again, America is no Israel.
But we can ask God to bless us the way He blessed Israel:
God, we ask You to honor Your Holy Name among us. Cleanse us from all impurities and all our idols. Give us a new heart and put a new spirit within us. Remove our hearts of stone and give us hearts of flesh. Place Your Spirit within us and cause us to follow Your statutes and carefully observe Your ordinances.” Ezekiel 36:25-27.
ΑΩ
Household Words: 