Exposing government corruption

This blog was not set up for political discourse (though we always seek to bring forth truth no matter what area of discussion) however from time to time I feel some things outside the usual area I cover are too vital to ignore.

Most of us are tired of all the politics and attacks during this ¹past (and apparently ongoing) political campaign. I propose the following summary of leaks released by Wikileaks (see link here or at the end of this post) may explain in great part what has been going on.

For those who might be fuzzy about the veracity of Wikileaks itself (due to misinformation from main stream media), all you need to know is they are simply an information clearing house, so to speak. They actually are doing what reporters should be doing. Reporting on things the government does that leakers feel the people should know about i.e. government corruption.

This by the way, was in fact why the founders believed freedom of the press is so vital. To be an unrestrained watchdog of government and a check on government corruption.

By the way, what would be the best way for those involved in government corruption to avoid scrutiny? Control the press. For more on this click here. 

By way of analogy, what if you worked for a bank and discovered the president and directors of the bank had developed a scheme by which money could be siphoned off into their own personal accounts without detection and you had solid proof this was occurring. But when you tried to bring this to others within the bank, they simply dismissed it as nuts (he's the president after all and everyone knows he's a good guy). They ridiculed you either out of fear of losing their job and/or their reputation being smeared or because they were party to the corruption and getting some kickback through the scheme.  

You knew in time this would cause the bank to collapse. Not only were you concerned about the depositors, but also the shareholders. And you did not want to be a party to any of this if the bank went under. But to come forward and expose this likely meant either your termination or being slandered, hurting your reputation and ability to get work elsewhere or worse, etc. If the corruption were great enough and the stakes high enough, there could even be a risk to you or your family's life. 

What would you do? Where would you go? You feel you must do something but do not want to put yourself or loved ones at risk or in harm's way. 

You would go to someone willing to bring forth the information to the public to see the evidence for themselves, without revealing you as the source. That is precisely what WikiLeaks offered. This was similar to what ¹Snowden did as well. 

How does Wikileaks get its information? From leakers... whistleblowers within government or whatever operation they are a part of and bringing proof of corruption to Wikileaks. Nothing more and nothing less.

Why do the leakers come to Wikileaks? Because Wikileaks has an impeccable track record of not divulging its sources since its inception in 2006. If they ever did, the leakers would stop bringing them information. Reason? If they were exposed, the information they brought forth could result in their losing their jobs, or possibly far worse. Just like any reporting outlet, Wikileaks never divulge their sources who seek anonymity for their protection.

Nor have they ever published anything that has proven to be anything other than what it is, direct words ("unintended confessions") from the sources themselves. In this situation, ALL the information is correspondence by or between the perpetrators themselves or documents produced by them of their nefarious actions. No commentary, no editing, just pure proof of corruption from the source themself.

WikiLeaks also does considerable research to confirm the veracity of the information given to them, otherwise, they don't report it. This is also part of why they have an impeccable reputation for accuracy. Nothing they have brought forth to date has proven to be inaccurate in substance or regarding the parties involved. Not even by the guilty parties themselves. In fact, from what I understand, there hasn't even been an attempt to refute the information brought forth (only attempts to smear the reputation of the leakers or Wikileaks. That's what liars do). The parties know it would be pointless because the documents/reports are rock solid, 100% accurate. So instead they attack and disparage WikiLeaks as a diversion away from the facts that they report. The classic ad hominem attack.

If you were the party being exposed, what would your attitude be towards the reporter (in this case WikiLeaks). You would despise them, would you not? After all, they have been party to exposing your criminal activity. 

For those who care to know Assange, the chief editor is what we would call liberal politically. For those who wonder why so many "hits" have been on liberal politicians more than conservative, it is simply because those are the leaks being brought to them i.e. apparently the corruption is more common among the left or at least the reports are more frequent. 

Remember, WikiLeaks is not the source of the leaks, only the distributor of them. If they get any proof of corruption, regardless of the source or their political affiliation, they pass it along. WikiLeaks simply reports and exposes the corruption being brought to them. Nothing more and nothing less. It does not target particular political agendas or parties. 10 years ago, WikiLeaks became famous for exposing elements of the Bush administration and the Iraq wars and quickly became heroes to the left at the time. As time went on the left increasingly despised them.

https://wikileaks.org/nsa-201602/ 

For the top 100 leaks posted through WikiLeaks prior to these most recent ones regarding Vault 7 click here. 

Here's is the latest report as of this post from Assange himself. 

For some comments on what is going on, here is what I believe is a spot-on assessment by Monica Crowely, who herself was a victim for coming forth with the truth. 

For a discussion on corruption within media click here.

For a discussion of a Christian's role toward government click here

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¹This article was originally written March 2017, shortly after the 2016 election.

*Now that Assange and Snowden are out of the picture Project Veritas took up the mantle of exposing corruption through investigative reporting. They were so effective that criminal elements infiltrated the board, went after James O'Keefe the founder and had him fired. As a result O'Keefe started O'Keefe Media Group (OMG) to resume his investigative reporting.

I could never obey the law

To be consumed with the impossibility of obeying God's commands is wrong thinking. This is our clue that we do not understand its true purpose. This wrongfully thinks we must obey it or else... 

Obedience to God, however, is no longer a requirement, it's what we aspire to. Christ satisfied the necessity of perfectly obeying the law by obeying it for us, and taking on the ultimate consequences of our not obeying it; judgment and death. Now we can approach the law as it was truly and originally intended; as God's loving guidance (without having to look over our shoulder in fear of condemnation and dread of rejection when we blow it) so we might fully experience and take part in God's perfect design for us and honor him most. 

When we understand God gives us direction for our own good and his glory, this is something we should delight in and be eager to follow, not dread. Christ took the dread (condemnation) out of the law. There is nothing to dread any longer. Christ fully met and satisfied the demands of the law (we could not obey it perfectly anyway) and bore the full consequences of us not doing so. As Christ cried out on the cross,  "It is finished!" Now we are freed from the demands of the law in order to make us righteous because Christ fulfilled those demands for us.

How to properly view the law

If someone told you of a pot of gold and that it was yours to keep if found, would you be excited? What if you had no idea where this gold was? All you know is it is in a direction full of dangers and death if you make the wrong move. Would you be a little concerned or discouraged? 

Now, what if this same person offered you a detailed map of how to find it? The map also gave you warnings of all the various hazards along the way: what and where they were, how to avoid them, or what to do if you couldn't. And also directions of where to find food, water, shelter (and medicine if needed) so you could be refreshed (or healed) on your journey. Would that encourage you? Would you be more hopeful and excited or would you ignore the offer of this map? And if you accepted the map, would you put it in your backpack and ignore it as you launched out in your search for the gold? To ignore it would cause significant delay at a minimum or you never finding the treasure and even possible loss of life. 

When we understand the true intent of the law now that we are in Christ - not as a requirement or demand to fulfill but as instructions and directions on how to succeed and flourish - the law will become our delight. We will gladly embrace and pursue it, for in doing so, we are perusing God himself by means of his wise and loving directions. 

This is the essence of the instructions we find in all of Psalm 119.

1Jn 5:3  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

When we fully understand and receive his love we will trust and gladly follow his directions. And we do so because we now trust the one who gives them. He's earned our trust by proving His love for us and His desire for our highest good. We will no longer see his directions/commands as a burden but as a help. 

For additional discussions on the role of God's law for the believer click here. 

Pursuing good things or the best thing

As his children, God does not condemn us for our choices. He allows us to pursue ¹good things so we might come to see the importance and value of choosing the best thing i.e. that which draws us closer to God and not away from him. 

And when we do, this is a choice we make freely. It is a choice based on our love for God and value of him versus love or value for something else. It is not a choice we make in order to gain his love but because we already have it in Christ and desire to enter into and participate more fully in it, above all other loves.

Though there are always consequences for not pursuing the best things, those consequences are not necessarily or only the loss of material things or comfortable circumstances but can simply be the loss of communion and fellowship with the Father and his Son in the Spirit.

The stronger our relationship with God, the more we feel that loss (the estrangement) and the more impacting it is.

As we mature and our taste and experience of God, in all his infinite love, grows, the loss of fellowship with him becomes an increasingly greater and more significant loss than the loss of material blessings or comfortable circumstances. We begin to care more about losing communion with God then the loss of other things. The loss of comfortable circumstances becomes increasingly less of a concern. 

There are many things that are good and to be enjoyed. But when we pick good things over the best thing, we are missing out on the greatest joys and benefits of who God is and who he made us to be. 

1Th 5:19  Do not quench the Spirit.

Eph 4:30a  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God...

Psa 51:11-12  Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

¹and even bad things. Think of Joseph arrogantly flaunting his dream before his brothers. Or his dad sinfully favoring Joseph over his brothers. God incorporates bad choices (ours and others) to bring about his good ends. This is part of the "all things" spoken of in Romans 8:28-29

For more on this last point regarding Rom 8:28-29 click here.

For a discussion on God still being in control when evil happens click here. 

what is our work

As God's children, we are to work but not in the way we commonly think. By work we normally think of doing/acting/working to gain some ¹direct or immediate benefit for ourselves. Whatever that gain is, be it money, fame, importance, safety, security etc, we seek to be affirmed as significant/valuable and/or to ²secure our safety. But in fact, our work should be to honor (value) God and bless (value) others instead. 

When we peel back the layers, our need for a sense of positive identity/value and/or safety is what ultimately drives most if not all behavior e.g. pursuit of money, fame, importance, safety, security etc. i.e. the goal of our actions is to bolster ourselves instead of honoring God and loving our neighbor. 

However, as believers, our work is the work of being (who we already are), not doing. I doesn't mean we do nothing, it means our work should come out of being i.e. All good and right doing springs out of (is the fruit of) right being first. 

John 15:5  I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

We do/act because we are already loved and watched over i.e. we don't work to gain identity/value/ love or protection, we work because we already have it.

And who or what is it exactly that we are and what is it that we already have? 

We are fully and infinitely loved, cherished, and cared for in Christ. "Being" (abiding) is to remain in (not move from or off of) this posture i.e. we are called to fix/set our heart and mind on who we are (beloved) in him and not move/budge from (doubt/question) this. What we have is God's infinite love in and through Christ. There is nothing we can do to make that more than it already is. 

We are to always recognize (believe) we are loved and never stop believing this regardless of whatever else is happening. This is what the bible means by ³abiding in Christ. Our status (state of being) is one of being perfectly loved, cared for and embraced by God at all times in all things because of all Christ did on our behalf. Rom 8:35-39

John 15:9  As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 


What kind of love are we loved with

Christ is saying the very same love (i.e. an infinite and bottomless love) that the Father has for him is the same exact love Christ has for us. And what is the nature of the love of the Father for the Son? It is infinite and total. 

Our "work" is to believe this reality is true of us as well, then act accordingly, even if and when we don't feel it is. 

"Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28  Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29  Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” - Jesus - Joh 6:27-29   

And it is indeed hard work, for often our circumstances make it hard for us to believe God is for us, still with us, has not abandoned us, is caring for us, watching over us and fully embracing us when circumstances are challenging and we don't feel his presence or see what we might think is evidence of his hand in our lives. 

This was true at different times for Christ as well. 


God's love takes care of both our inner and our outer mess. 

No destructive attitude or disposition by us (inner mess)

AND

No difficulty or circumstance to us (outer mess)

will ever separate God's love from us.

When we rest (abide/stay/stand) fully in who we are as God's beloved child, then we will do what we are designed to do i.e. legitimate doing comes out of being first.

John 15:5  I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

For a further discussion on being/abiding click here. 

For a discussion on the fight of faith click here. 
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¹It is not that direct benefits/fruit/results do not come from our efforts. They certainly do. It is that these come when sought for the glory of God i.e. to bring honor/attention/ praise to himself and not to us. 

For a further discussion this click here. 

²because we are broken we use God's good gifts for the wrong end i.e. to bolster our poor sense of value.  Matt 6:25-33 

³abide - μένω - menō

Thayer Definition:

1) to remain, abide

1a) in reference to place

1a1) to sojourn, tarry

1a2) not to depart

1a2a) to continue to be present

1a2b) to be held, kept, continually

1b) in reference to time

1b1) to continue to be, not to perish, to last, endure

1b1a) of persons, to survive, live

1c) in reference to state or condition

1c1) to remain as one, not to become another or different

2) to wait for, await one

All things work together for our good.

Does God really work in all things for our good if we are his child? What about stupid or bad decisions?

God is in the business of redeeming and using even our poor choices to bring about our ultimate good i.e. our best. So in this sense we can never mess things up. He will always bring about our best no matter what we choose or don't choose, do or don't do.

But the way he brings about good results from bad choices is by allowing us to suffer the consequences of bad choices so we might freely turn from them (repent) and draw near to him. In this way, God always brings about our best through all things, even bad choices. But indirectly, not directly.

Good choices, on the other hand, bring about our best directly. The beauty of being a child of God is He is always working in all things  - including the bad things - for our good. 

Good choices are preferred because this is a direct pursuit of what is best. When we make good choices -- obey -- we are spared the ¹consequences that result from making a bad choice -- disobedience. But even if or when we unintentionally miss making the right choice (which is always best), he is still working for our ultimate good through these wrong ones i.e. he still uses the wrong choices (all things work for good) to bring about our ²ultimate best. We are just not spared the suffering that comes with the wrong ones. At least not automatically, or as a normal matter of course. 

Of course, this is true only for those who love God. If we have no love for God - i.e. are not his child - we ³only experience the negative consequences of poor choices i.e. our choices are not redeemed and used for our good. This is why this promise is for those "who love God..." 

God is not uptight

God doesn't stress over our wrong or bad choices. He is fully in control and uses them to bring about our ultimate good and his ultimate glory. Nothing is bigger than God or can thwart his purpose, even our sin or evil. 

Our loss (short term) and suffering is real nevertheless. But it is our suffering and loss, not His. He cares about us but looses nothing - He is still as much God after our choices as before them. We are diminished by them (at least short term and not in the ultimate sense) not God.

Job 35:6  If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him? And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him? 7  If you are righteous, what do you give to him? Or what does he receive from your hand? 8  Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself, and your righteousness a son of man. 

A free choice is a choice of love

God desires us to turn freely to him, not out of constraint or obligation. God desires we choose obedience freely. If it is not free it is not true obedience and not done out of love. When we freely obey him it is an act of love and not of constraint. 

This is why he allows us to make bad choices. They may be bad but they are ours. Just as good choices are ours. When we learn from our bad choices and make good choices as a result, that is also ours i.e. it is really us, really learning (even Christ learned obedience through the things he suffered. His suffering, however, was never from bad choices but from living in a broken world as a result of our bad choices). 

Aren't we obligated?

We must obey God but not for his acceptance and love (i.e. do it or else you will be rejected) but to draw near to him, and experience all the benefits and joy that comes with those good/obedient choices. It also brings God the greatest glory.

Won't we miss his will if we are disobedient?

Even when you are out (of his direct will) you are still in it (his ultimate overall will) because God uses your being out to bring you further in. To us a modern expression, it's all good. 

To understand this we must understand the different elements of God's will. They are His:

Direct or revealed will: his spoken word/commandments (our direct best from good choices).

Ultimate will: to make us more like his son (our indirect and ultimate best brought about through bad choices or circumstances as well as good ones).

Rom 8:28  And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good (even if they are bad), for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For (here's the reason why...are you ready?) those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 

For a further discussion on how God uses evil for good click here and here. 

For a further discussion on how greater evil might result in greater good click here. 
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¹Though there may be another kind of consequence for obedience i.e. persecution. The difference between this consequence and the consequence of violating our design (disobedience) is we are promised God will directly honor (reward) obedience but not disobedience. Though He uses both, He only rewards the former.

²Our ultimate best is becoming increasingly more like his Son. 

Rom 8:29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 

How do our mistakes and failures make us more like Jesus? They humble us. How? By revealing to us 

1. our desperate condition without God 

and 

2. our need for a Savior. 

Ultimately there can be no greater good then for us to discover these 2 things because they result in us knowing and experiencing more of God, who is our greatest good.

³though the consequences of the bad choice of an unbeliever could result in their turning to God i.e. their repentance. If so, their bad choices would result in their ultimate good. 

denial of dependence

Our problem isn't weakness/dependence, it is the denial of it. We are in fact, dependent and finite creatures. And because we deny this we miss out on the fullness of life available only in being dependent on and reconnected to the infinite source of life. 

Joh 14:6  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 

Joh 17:2  And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 

The world being in bondage, with all the pain and suffering that comes with it, is - in a roundabout way - actually a blessing. It is a stark remember we were never designed to live independent of God - i.e. to be our own god. Therefore, it can be the means of our turning back to him. How many have turned to Christ in a moment of great pain?

But only if we acknowledge our need for God first and relinquish our commitment to being our own god, does it become a blessing. Otherwise, it is a curse. 

"... in weakness and vulnerability we are trusting in Christ and his strength, so what we think of as weakness is from a worldly point of view. In actuality, it is a means of real power. In the words of Bonhoeffer, “What may appear weak and trifling to us may be great and glorious to God.” The Way of the Dragon and The Way of the Lamb. Pg 115

An anatomy of motivation

There are two overall but opposite approaches we observe in scripture regarding our motivation to obedience. All underlying forms of motivation fall under these two. They are...

·        positive motivation

·        negative motivation

There seems to be an indication that at a minimum we are to be moved initially on the path of obedience by the negative (which results in a positive outcome). As we mature the positive elements of our motivation become increasingly greater and the preferred (and ultimate/highest) form of motivation. However, since the negative appears to be where scripture starts we will look at this first.  

Pro 1:7  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (wisdom, true understanding). We could say it's the foundation on which all other knowledge and true wisdom is built. It is the starting point (though not the ending) for living obediently.

Why? Because any true movement towards God must start with the recognition that he is the God of great glory/worth and that all things come from him and belong to him. Therefore we answer to him on how we conduct our lives. If we act contrary to who he is and how he designed us, there are always consequences. In short, we are to respect (fear) he is God; he sets the boundaries of how things operate, we do not. 

But how does God use fear? As we dig further into the context of Prov 1 we see consequences for living contrary to God's will, direction, commands, address the meaning and basis for this fear.

To say it another way, there is a good way to live and a way that is harmful. To ignore this basic reality has consequences. To respect this is to have a healthy fear of acting contrary to God's expressed (spoken) will and our design. Ultimately this is a respect for God and that there are consequences for violating his design/will/word.  

There are consequences because we live in a world of design and purpose. We see evidence of this daily in simple things like, stop breathing and you die. Cut off your arm and you bleed to death and so on. 

Just as there are physical consequences for violating God's design, there are spiritual and moral consequences as well. To go contrary to these basic realities is to violate ours and the world's design. The reality of what is. 

The spiritual, emotional, and psychological world have a design that is equally consistent and predictable. 

And there is design simply because there is a designer. So living contrary to our design is indirectly living contrary to the will of the Designer. To respect or fear this reality is wise and ultimately a respect/fear of God i.e. the fear of the Lord (the designer of all things) is the beginning of knowledge.

Solomon goes on to lay out why we should follow God's instruction and if we do not what the consequences will be e.g. terror, calamity, distress, and anguish in verse 27. Destruction, dread, and disaster in verse 32 and 33.  All of this based on not recognizing truth and not choosing "the fear of the LORD" in verse 29. Whereas on the flip side verse 33 also promises security and ease if we follow his instructions/direction/will.

It's worth noting that LORD -- in all caps -- meaning self-sufficient one. (The word in the original is YHWH, also translated Jehovah). He is the "I AM" who needs no one. We need him.

Pro 1:27  when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.

Pro 1:28  Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me.

Pro 1:29  Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD,

Pro 1:30  would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof,

Pro 1:31  therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices.

Pro 1:32  For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them;

Pro 1:33  but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster."

Click here to see the entire chapter.

So again, we can see from the above passage, a central element of fear is knowing there are consequences for violating God's design/will. We also see this in Heb 11:7 

"By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this, he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith."

Noah built the ark because he feared he and his household would drown if they did not i.e. he respected (had faith in) God's warning. Him taking action on God's warning was an indictment on the rest of mankind for not taking action, hence their ridicule of Noah's efforts. 

This was opposite of the disposition of Adam and Eve. They did not heed warning that they would die if they ate from the forbidden tree. They did not fear God.

The role of trust/faith

This foundational motive is acting out of respect (fear) for God. To say it another way, if God says it, don't question it; it's true. A key element of this fear is trust. If we don't believe/trust the one that warns us of harm, we will not heed their warning. If Noah didn't believe God was someone of his word he wouldn't have built the ark.

If Adam and eve had feared and trusted God they would not have eaten from the forbidden tree.

And in reality, many "obey" this truth on a regular basis whether they believe in God or not. We have simply learned (come to recognize/believe/trust) that if you go contrary to certain "baked in" rules you will incur harm to yourself or others i.e. if we violate certain principles and step over certain boundaries we suffer harm. So we don't necessarily have to trust God, we trust violating or not pursuing a certain "law" will always result in the same negative outcome.  Things operate in such a manner its hard not to recognize there is design even if we don't acknowledge the Designer. To use a biblical expression, we have come to recognize we reap what we sow. This too is why I think this fear is the beginning of knowledge since even unbelievers recognize this on some basic level.  

Until higher motivations are developed we act by faith out of respect for God or at least "belief" and respect (fear) for the consequences of acting contrary to the design we see all around us and in us.

This is an action that is often absent any feelings (except the fear itself) or affections for God, but simply acting out of respectful or reverential trust that to go contrary to design causes harm/pain, etc. 

If all we have is trust and there is no felt love and affections for God then we are still to act and will still experience the consequences of not acting - or the benefits of acting - regardless of how we feel. Obedient faith is not contingent on feelings but on confidence in the faithful character of God (or at least his law if we are believers or observable "laws of nature" if we are not).

So what must we believe about God in order to act?

What exactly is it we respect regarding God? That he is all-wise, powerful (He can and does what he says) and loving, in his being and the directions he gives us. Because he is, he knows there are negative consequences for going contrary to his loving design that is harmful to us. 

*Sometimes God in his mercy suspends the normal consequences of violating his design. When does this occur? When we truly and genuinely see the foolishness of going contrary to his design before the full consequences occur. The desired outcome of the consequences (i.e. repentance) has already occurred so that the full consequences are no longer needed. God's goal is not punishment, but repentance -- to change our course to a path of alignment with our design which is also in alignment with His will.

More than fear

However, for a believer, there are additional, higher elements to obedience (aligning ourselves with God's design); the positive ones I alluded to in the beginning.

I say higher because the fear of consequences primarily involves saving our own neck. These other and higher motivations, however, involve the benefit of another i.e. the focus isn't self but God and his creatures/creation.

What are these higher motivations? They are love and a desire to honor God.

I propose that honor is the greatest, best, highest and ultimate motivation. It is the most mature kind of motivation as it's solely focused on the benefit of another instead of our own. It will even move us to sacrifice our own benefit for another. And that in great part because we come to see all we ¹have and are, comes from the one we desire to honor and He rewards those who seek and trust Him.  

And in fact, we draw our truest sense of value from displaying the value of another i.e. God, the most valuable and honorable of all. So our honoring God actually does benefit us, but not as an exclusively isolated benefit and therefore the primary focus of our efforts. It is tied to the benefit of others and only comes about as the fruit of focusing on honoring another. 

It is the place we come to when we are so certain he only has our best interests at heart (only allows things that are for us not against us) we no longer need to concern ourselves with our best interest. We are so trusting of God's love, goodness, wisdom, and ability to bring about what is best (not necessarily easiest, most comfortable or most reasonable [to us anyway]), we only desire his honor (a place I do not consistently live in, by the way, but see more and more as a part of my motivation). 

In short, we are so convinced he's working in our best interest, we no longer give thought to it or feel the need to insure it ourselves because He insures it. We are convinced God "has our back" and there is no need to concern ourselves with our own welfare.

We may relate to God solely out of respect in the beginning but as we mature our affections for God grow as our awareness of the full extent of God's love for us increases. This results in ever increasing trust in God. As our relationship matures and we see more and more the greatness of God and His love for us, this blossoms ultimately into honor/respect for God springing out of these affections of love and delight (pleasure) in God.

To come to the place we are moved by God to obedience (faithfulness) out of this ultimate higher motivation of a desire to honor God goes as follows...

* a strong desire to honor God (our highest and best end and the ultimate end where God seeks to bring us), 

* out of deep love and trust in and for him, 

* because of a clear understanding of his sacrificial love for us, 

* demonstrated in giving us his son Jesus i.e. we love him because he first loved us.

When someone sees us as we truly are in all our brokenness and still:

·        Does for us what is required of us and from us (because of who God is and this is who we were created to be), ...totally providing the remedy for our brokenness (because we have not and can not do it ourselves), how can we not love them (Him) in return?

·        Pursues, receives and embraces us fully, how can we not trust them?

·       Treats us with great value and honor, how can we not value and honor Him in return?

The more we understand Gods great and personal love for us in and through Christ, the more we trust him and are moved to faithfully follow his directions i.e. obey.

(But lack of affections does not mean you should not act. We act by faith anyway if only out of fear/reverence for God.

When we act by faith without any feelings we also act in the confidence that this both honors God and is in our best interest)

Stated simply, the primary motives for obedience after and beyond fear and pointing to the ultimate motivation of honor are 

* love

* trust

* honor

So the lists of all forms of motivation started from the most basic to the highest are:

* fear

* love

* trust

* honor

Whether we are mature followers of Christ or new followers, all of these come into play. But as we mature it appears we move and more to honor as the dominant motivation and the one we ultimately should seek. 

But what about hope?

From scripture, we get the sense that hope is not so much a motivator as it is a sustainer i.e. something that keeps us from giving up on faithfulness (obedience). Hope seems to go hand in hand with faith, but is not itself faith but more about the objective of that faith i.e. that thing we believe we will obtain but do not yet have. So you could say it's a support to or element of our faithful obedience more than a cause of it. 

Hope is more confidence that what is promised to happen, will actually happen. Sure hope is confidence in an objective certainty that is not yet a subjective experience or reality. 

Heb 11:1

(AMP)  NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. 

(DRB)  Now, faith is the substance of things to be hoped for, the evidence of things that appear not. 

(ERV)  Faith is what makes real the things we hope for. It is proof of what we cannot see. 

(ESV)  Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 

(GNB)  To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see. 

(KJV)  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 

___________________________________________Footnotes:

¹not only did God create us and give us all things, he also took human form and stepped into this broken, pain-filled world and embraced the pain so we could one day be freed from it. To know this truly causes us to desire to honor him fully.