APR 7

Psalm 14:1-3
Memorise Psalm 14:2-3
“…there is none that doeth good, no, not one”

A few years ago, during a class reunion I bumped into my ex-school head prefect, and was startled to find that the former Christian beacon of light had turned into a present day ruffian. Later, I realised that children in this world may appear to be good not because of a desire to do so, but because of ulterior motives. Some do so to impress people while others may do so for reward or status.

Psalm 14:2-3 says it so well: “The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one”. Even after being saved, in the course of serving God, our motives can be suspect. Some might serve in a certain ministry because it feeds their pride, while some serve to get close to another person. Indeed, as long as we are in this mortal body, it is extremely difficult to have pure motives. Now, it does not mean we should stop serving God altogether, but it does mean we must constantly check our motives. For example, if asked to serve in a particular area, do seek God’s will in prayer rather than your own.

The point is, we will not naturally seek after God. Indeed, before we were saved, none of us would have sought after God on our own because of our sinful nature. It is only because of the Holy Spirit that convicts us that we will realise our sinfulness and need for salvation. Yet, after we are saved, being in the body of flesh, we still have a fleshly nature which continues to plague us, as explained by the Apostle Paul in Romans 7:14-25. Unless we yield to the Holy Spirit to teach us, our own fleshly nature will never naturally seek to obey God.

Therefore for us, we must constantly pray and ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance in our lives. By our own efforts, we would so easily backslide and seek after the things of the world. But with God leading us, we can live lives of consecration that glorify and please Him.

Thought: Do I yield to the Holy Spirit or to my own will?
Prayer: Lord, see if there be any wicked way in me, cleanse me, lead me in Thy way.