# 304 - Today we read from Mr 3:18, “Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite; 19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.”
Next on our list of the apostles is Bartholomew, (known as Nathanael) In John 1:44-51 we read of how Phillip sought out Nathanael and told him that they had found the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, and then invited him to “come and see.”
Nathaniel was puzzled by the reference to Nazareth. He was not aware of any Messiah that was to come out of Nazareth, nonetheless, he had a sincere desire to find the one who was spoken of by Moses and the prophets. So he comes to Jesus and when Jesus saw him coming he said, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile.” (Jn 1:47)
What a compliment! Jesus saw the purity of Nathanael's, heart. He was a man of right motives. A great reminder for each of us to check our motives for following and imitating Christ.
If our motives are wrong, we may become victimized by life's circumstances, and when things don't match up to our expectations, our faith could become derailed.
Jesus said in Mt 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
Do you want to see God? Keep your motivation pure. Simply stated, “Love Him because He first loved us.” (1 Jn 4:19)
There is no purer motivation than this kind of love. And when God puts the love of Jesus in your heart by grace through faith, you cannot help but be rightly motivated. You will no longer have to pursue purity.....it will overtake you, as you yield to the rule of the Holy Spirit in your life.
I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.
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