MAY 13,  1 Chronicles 28:9

“Hi, Liz,” crooned Sophie into the phone. She was using her sweetest voice. “I was wondering if you’d like to come to my birthday party on Saturday. It’s at one o’clock.” She paused, then added, “Okay, see you there!”

Mom smiled as Sophie hung up the phone and headed to play with her friend, Gina. But Mom’s smile faded when she overheard the girls talking.

“Is she coming?” Gina asked. Sophie grinned and nodded. “Good,” continued Gina. “When she gives you something as nice as the bracelet she gave me, you’ll be glad you invited her even though she is weird. You’ll even thank me for telling you about it.” Giggling, the girls linked arms and headed for the nearby park.

That evening, Mom sat on the edge of Sophie’s bed. “Sophie, I couldn’t help but overhear you and Gina talking this afternoon,” she said. “I was sorry to learn you had an ulterior motive when you invited Liz to your birthday party.” “Ulterior motive?” Sophie asked. “I don’t even know what that is.”

“Well, when you have an ulterior motive, it means you have a reason other than the obvious one for doing something,” Mom explained. “I thought you invited Liz to your party because you wanted her to be your friend, but your real reason was to get a nice gift from her.”

“Oh, Mom,” protested Sophie. “She won’t bother—she won’t even think of that as her family is wealthy!” “People may not see the real reason for things you do or say, but God always does,” said Mom firmly. “The Bible says God searches every heart and understands all of our motives, or reasons, for doing what we do.”

Sophie hadn’t thought of what God would know or think.

“I… maybe I could tell her not to bring a present?” suggested Sophie. Mom shook her head, and Sophie thought about it some more. “I should be a friend to her all the time, shouldn’t I?” she murmured at last. “I… I never did really try to be her friend, but I will. I’ll try my very best. I’ll tell Gina, too.”

“There you go,” said Mom with a smile.

Thought: Do your motives please God?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the reminder that You know all my thoughts. You know why I do the things I do and say the things I say. I pray I’d not hide any bad motives but instead always be pure and true. As I pour out my heart before You, please help for I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.