Heart Motivations

Let’s talk about heart motivations. Picture a big heart on the screen with 1 Corinthians 2:14 displayed. This verse tells us that the natural person doesn’t discern or experience the things of God because they are spiritually discerned and illuminated by the Spirit.

The Spirit of God lives in us. When engaging with or trying to help an unbeliever, recognize that their core heart motivation is driven by the flesh. They process, reflect, respond, and act only through the lens of their natural, fallen state. It’s easy to map our Christian experience over others and wonder why they think or act a certain way. If they’re still natural, unregenerate people, their motivations are flesh-driven.

Now, let’s turn to 2 Corinthians 5:17: “If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation.” They are completely different, no longer driven by their Adamic nature. They now have the potential to change, motivated by the Spirit.

This can serve as a diagnostic tool. If someone consistently fails to respond rightly, it might indicate they haven’t been born again. However, we must be charitable and discerning, looking for signs of gospel motivation without being judgmental.

Consider these signs of gospel motivation: Do they read, love, and learn from the Bible? Are they growing in humility and teachability, showing repentance and a desire to change? They should have a desire to pray and walk in the Spirit, experiencing conviction and gaining spiritual insight. Even if the lights are dim, indicating they might be a young convert or a Christian in sin, the presence of the Spirit should be evident. They should also have a desire to love their enemies, taking on Christlikeness and gaining a new perspective.

These are just a few signs of the gospel at work. Reflect on other signs of being Christlike, such as the fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5. Understanding heart motivations is crucial, helping us to avoid expecting too much or too little from others, and enabling us to discern what’s happening in their hearts.