Let's say I want to position myself to know that person who might give me access to something I want. That's an agenda, for sure. What scent might God assign to my motive: sweet-smelling or sporting a little stink?
Maybe I don't want to take the time to interact with such and such a person because my time seems better spent in other places. If God would have assigned the sweetest scent to Jesus intentionally spending time with those considered social outcasts, my scent based on being "too busy" would probably fall far down the good-smelling line.
It is scary to be honest with our agendas that we sometimes hide even from ourselves. We jockey, avoid and manipulate through our days to best serve what we think we want or should have or even deserve.
Pure hearts, unabashed with genuine love for everyone, are hard to come by. Matthew 5:8:
You're blessed when you get your inside world--your mind and heart--put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.Our minds and hearts put right might include trusting God with our circumstances and our days. If our agenda is to let him run the show, we can be assured we will see him as we interact with the segments of the outside world he brings our way.
A story I heard in college had a huge impact on me:
A certain fraternity always asked those interested in joining what their fathers did for a living. One rush participant answered, "My father is a baker." The fraternity denied him entrance. Imagine their surprise when they learned his father was the president of Sunbeam.It is completely tempting to vie for the world's seeming best. As a beginning teacher, I had a choice between a small town and a medium-sized city. I asked God what he thought. I sensed his answer was this challenge:
Do you think I care less about the children in the small town? Would they be less important--or useful--to you?Lord, please help me find that "Mind and Heart Put Right" scent. I'm sure that is the sweetest-smelling in your eyes.
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