"For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name." - Daniel 9:18-19
"For your own sake, O my God."
"For your own sake, O my God."
"For your own sake, O my God."
Why do we do what we do? Who or what is our motivation?
In today's passage from Daniel, God tells us that even if we have the highest earthly motivation, (which is to share the Gospel of Jesus with an unbeliever so they can be saved), then our motivation still falls short. Our motivation still falls short not only of God's will but our motivation also falls short of what is really best for the unbeliever.
If we are sharing the gospel just for the sake of the unbeliever then we run the risk of defaming and profaning the Lord's name. Because we're looking first to bless the person, we are doing the right thing with the wrong motive.
The right motive, God says, and therefore what we look to do first, is bless and praise the Lord.
If we are witnessing and sharing the gospel to others for the sake of the Lord's name then it behooves us to be sure to be witnessing in a manner that does not profane His name and that it is in obedience to the Lord.
It's at this point that I probably should acknowledge that yes I know that today is Saturday and that I usually try to be short and sweet and cheery with Days of Praise on Saturdays because I realize that everyone needs a rest from thinking too hard from Monday to Friday. But isn't that exactly another application of what was just said above: "If we are sharing the gospel just for the sake of the [person] then we run the risk of defaming and profaning the Lord's name [because] we are doing the right thing with the wrong motive"?
I really do want you to have a restful Saturday. I myself want a restful Saturday.
But Daniel is God's instrument in today's verses to remind us that if we really want rest for our loved ones -- translation of "rest" = God's great mercy, God's forgiveness, God's attention, God's actions for God's places and God's people -- then we must desire that our paths are "paths of righteousness for His name's sake" (Psalm 23).
Think about it. Better yet, go to www.biblegateway.com and search "name sake" and just read, (you barely even need to think to be impressed), just read the thirty-four (34) Bible passages where God tells us all that He does for His name's sake.
The greatest blessings for us are all "for His name's sake."
So if we really want to rest today, or any day for that matter, thinking about what is done for God's name's sake will be a major part of our day.
"For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name." - Daniel 9:18-19
Praise God!
Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson
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