I can’t tell you how many times I have been misunderstood. I would bet that we have all experienced this frustration many more times than we would like. People can’t help but judge our motives from what we say and do. But since they don’t know our hearts, their judgments of our intentions is far from infallible. The same is true of us when we try to judge the motives of others from appearances.
I Kings 8:39-40 says, “then hear in heaven your dwelling place and forgive and act and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways (for you, you only, know the hearts of all the children of mankind), that they may fear you all the days that they live in the land that you gave to our fathers.” God alone knows our hearts, so He alone can judge our motives and desires. Our actions may fool some people into believing we are doing good, but God knows and understands what is really going on inside of us. He alone can forgive us when we call upon Him and confess our bad intentions.
Reluctant Retiree 