Motivation, that persistent and often elusive force within us—our reasons for seeking God—can be difficult to understand or control. Sometimes, we wonder whether we should stop reading the Scriptures or praying altogether, fearing that our hearts are driven solely by selfish motives or that our faith is superficial. But I would urge you, let that not be your conclusion! There is a genuine reason—even if mixed with sin—for our desire to seek forgiveness. We long for reconciliation because we recognize our guilt and need God's cleansing grace. Yet, all too often, we fixate on our feelings—the mess our sins have caused, our shame and guilt—and mistakenly believe that this alone constitutes true repentance. Such a focus seldom leads to real change or spiritual healing. The psalmist’s plea echoes through the ages: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and see if there is any wicked way in me." What we really need is divine grace—not just to feel sorry but to genuinely repent, to mourn our sins rightly, and to turn away from them. This isn’t about legalism or burdensome duty; rather, it’s about recognizing God's greatness, acknowledging our offenses against Him, and standing in awe of His gracious forgiveness. When we truly see His sovereignty and majesty, our motivations shift. He becomes the object of our faith, the hope that anchors us. The law served an important purpose—revealing our inability to attain righteousness on our own and pointing us forward to the coming Savior. It urged the faithful to look ahead in faith, trusting that God's promise of redemption would be fulfilled. Now, in the new covenant established through Jesus Christ, everything has changed—because Christ has fulfilled the law perfectly. He obeyed every command, kept the law flawlessly; He is the divine Word made flesh, revealing God's truth in human form. The cross stands as the ultimate symbol of that truth—where divine justice and mercy meet. Jesus’ sacrificial death was the ultimate atonement, able to truly forgive sins in a way the old system of daily sacrifices could never accomplish. The old system, with its rituals and ceremonies, was temporary—a shadow pointing to a greater reality. Now, through Christ, the law’s purpose is fulfilled; it no longer burdens us with obsolete ceremonial requirements. Our calling is to obey—not to earn righteousness, which is impossible for fallen humanity, but to acknowledge our ongoing shortcomings and depend on His grace. We never fully keep the law because of our sinful nature, but Christ’s atoning sacrifice covers our failures. His righteousness is credited to us—imputed as a gift—so that through faith in Him, we gain access to the Father and are accepted not by our own merit but by His grace. To God be all the glory!