HE sees everything you do...

matthew 5.8 (niv), blessed are the pure in heart and pure in heart means unmixed motives.

motives. matthew 6.1 (ms), be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don't make a performance out of it. it might be good theater, but the GOD who made you won't be applauding.

is it possible to do good things with wrong motives? yes. is it possible to be outwardly religious and inwardly a mess? yes. and JESUS is saying here in HIS sixth beatitude, happiness comes when you are the same on the inside as on the outside. you're a person of integrity. you have unmixed motives. JESUS said this was so important so HE spent an entire chapter on it. matthew 6.

now if you are wanting to be pure in heart there is key phrase found in matthew 6.4, 6 & 18 (niv), …your FATHER, who sees what is done in secret…

listen, nothing is a secret from GOD. nothing is ever a surprise to HIM.

does it bother you to know that you have no secrets from GOD? it bothers me sometimes. there's a lot of secrets i would like to have from GOD. but GOD says HE knows everything about us.

a lot of people think they're fooling GOD. have you ever had the devil tell you, "go ahead, nobody will ever find out"?

i was reading in usa today of what some business people think about this matter of having an affair on business trips. salespeople call it the 1,000-mile rule. "within 1,000 miles of home, you play by the rules and don't fool around, but beyond 1,000 miles, you can do whatever you want." "go ahead, nobody will ever find out."

listen, somebody already knows.

hebrews 4:13 (niv), nothing in all creation is hidden from GOD's sight. everything is uncovered before the eyes of HIM to whom we must give account.

so if GOD already knows everything i might as well have a pure heart than try to fake it. i may fool others but i cannot fake out GOD. and the amazing thing is GOD knows everything that i'm going to do but HE still loves me.

just a thought from the front porch…