Your motive was enough

Friend, let’s go back to basics for just a sec. Do you remember when you accepted Jesus as your Savior? I don’t mean you have to account for every word, step, or emotion, just remembering that you said yes when God called you to be part of His children. I do. It was simple and quiet.

Now, let me ask you this… please know it is not meant to be harsh or mean. Do you remember your motive? I know, I know — that sounds like a dumb question, right? But hear me, please. And know that this is not saying anything bad about your reason to accept Christ as your Savior.

You see, sometimes people accept salvation because they are scared of hell, some want to do the right thing, some are tired of living a life of struggle and defeat, and some because they truly want to walk a life with Christ. Now for me, it was the desire to do the right thing and be accepted by family too! It sounds like all of this has no bearing on anything, but it does.

God knew what it would take for me to walk to the altar and ask Jesus to forgive me of my sins that He bore and invite Him to be the Lord of my life and my Redeemer. Sounds all good and well, right? Which, don’t get me wrong, it is wonderful! But here’s the thing. I don’t know that I truly knew what it meant to go from dead to living in that moment.

I wasn’t raised in church, so all I knew was what I was learning in church service and Sunday school. What I did know was that I understood what it meant to be forgiven and how Jesus was the redeemer of a sinful soul. I wanted to be a good wife and momma, and it seemed that living a Christian life would be the key to that life.

Do I doubt my salvation?? Not at all!!

So by now you are probably wondering why I would even ask this question. Let me tell you why, my friend. Because I have learned that motives come from the heart. Regardless of what it is, the motive reflects what you have allowed to live in your heart.

I wanted to be loved and accepted for doing the right thing. Whether it was to be loved by people or by God, it was a pure motive. Not meaning it came from someone without sin, but rather it was pure in seeking God’s love for me. I just didn’t realize that is what it was then. In those days, there were hardly any preachers talking about restoration, redemption, and righteousness. It was more the fire and brimstone that taught that there were conditions for being a good person, or a good Christian, for that matter.

But Friend, that is not the mindset that God wants us to have. He doesn’t require us to be perfect when we come to Him. He knows what will compel us to accept His forgiveness and begin living a Kingdom lifestyle. Each of us is unique, and that includes the call of God to first be saved and second to be His vessel in sharing the Gospel, His grace, and His love.

I don’t have any doubts about the day that young woman accepted Christ simply because she wanted to do the right thing and be loved and accepted. I know this because in the years that have followed, and there have been many, that young woman has grown into a woman who knows that she is only worthy because God made her worthy. She knows that she is saved because He promises that whoever confesses with their mouth that Jesus is Lord, they shall be saved. (Romans 10:9)

We go from a life of death and sin to an eternal life of joy and love:

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! Ephesians 2:4-5 (CSB)

I know this feels like a winding road, but Friend — that’s kind of the point.

That is the very foundation of why you are on this journey to encounter Jesus. It is meant to give you hope that when you ran to Jesus for acceptance, escape, or because of fear, He was there to offer you the way of salvation because He loves you.

What makes the motive valid is the fact that you chose to depend on Christ for forgiveness of sins. It is valid because in that choice to seek the salvation only found through Jesus on the cross, you experienced a heart change. The motive has become your bridge from death to life — and it doesn’t matter where you’ve been. What matters is that you are now traveling backroads, finding the transforming breakthroughs that will help you cultivate a deeper relationship with Jesus.

Have you ever questioned whether your reason for coming to Jesus was “good enough?”

Friend, you are never traveling the backroads alone ~ Cyndi Kay ❣️