“Do you know that you are making history? It’s true. Everything that you do and every thought you think are recorded as your epitaph. Nothing is hidden; all will be brought to light on that day when you stand before Me. It will be much different than you think in many ways, some of them far beyond your understanding. You need to understand something. Some of you are attempting to accomplish much in Jesus’ Name, so that one day crowns for your work can be laid at His feet. I understand that. It is noble on your part. What you do now will be part of who you are forever. What you are often missing, however, are two key elements that will comprise the formation of most of the crowns given to Him. They are a priority on My heart and should be part of everything that you present to Me that day as your testimony.
"I desire obedience and a proper heart motive. You could present volumes that you have accomplished, supposedly in Jesus’ Name, and it would mean little to Me if your deeds were not accomplished out of obedience and with a proper heart motive. Without them, you could accomplish many good works and never really know Me. What good would that do? Many people do that, and I spend My time bringing them into a relationship with Me. You, however, need to fully understand and embrace what I am saying. You will be accountable for your heart motive in all that you have done for Me. Even if everything you did was wrong; but you sought to please Me with all your heart as your only motive for everything you did, you will be flooded with grace and mercy. I will be pleased.
"In the same way, if you appear to accomplish very little for Me, but sought Me for My will and then were obedient to what I told you to do, I will rejoice. You need to stop thinking with your carnal mind and enjoy your fellowship with Me. If you do that, much will be accomplished for My kingdom. I love to show you My path. It is narrow, but your burden will be light.”
1 Sam. 15:22b NIV
“…To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”
Matt. 7: 21-23 NIV
21) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22) “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
23) “Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you…’”
Boy, it seems that this obedience and heart motive thing is really important to God. Obedience is required, but we can have obedience without the proper heart motive - and that is no good. However, we can be mistaken in our actions - meaning that after seeking the Lord’s will, we do not hear it correctly, but still have the proper heart motive – and everything is covered by His mercy.
I’m convinced that our Lord is much more concerned about our relationship with Him than any amount of things that we do for Him. That may seem relatively basic, but somehow we always seem to get it backwards.
Sitting here in the early morning hours, writing this message, the Lord is having me question what I am doing with my life and why I am really doing much of it. I see, overall, that I am on the right track; but some of my motives need to be adjusted. That is pretty freeing. I can be wrong, but never condemned. As I repent of those things that are out of line, waves of peace come over me. In some instances, striving is replaced by trust, questions are replaced by faith, and much more. What an incredible opportunity - this relationship with God because of Jesus!
Thank You, Jesus!
Jim Corbett
