How do we know if we are obeying outwardly and not inwardly?

    I find it easy to show good works, especially to the people in my community of faith. Everything that they see in me volunteering and helping on Sundays and some Saturday events are insufficient to truly gauge if I'm obeying God inwardly all throughout the week. Only God knows what I'm doing 24/7 and the intention inside why I'm doing it. My parents, leaders, or even pastors can't fully know it. "God is looking for inward obedience first more than outward obedience".1
    Every time I'm going to help someone or serve in the ministry I need to evaluate the status of my heart. For "the heart is deceitful above all things".2 I don't have the exact metrics if the person is obeying inwardly but what I have are some questions to consider if we are obeying just outwardly and neglecting the crucial part.

1. Do we just obey to show off?
Whether there's a recognition or not you know that God is your audience and not the people.
"... do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing"3 - Matthew 6:3

2. Do we just obey to earn favor from God?
    Whether you are praying for breakthroughs such as but not limited to career, promotion, scholarship, or healing. Do you focus on what God might bless you with?

3. Do we just obey to somehow pay for what we did wrong in the past?
    This goes back to the core of our faith. Is it performance-based? or do we totally believe when he said "It is finished"4, it is absolutely finished.



Footnotes:

1 Cunanan, Fer. The Book of Haggai, Week 3. Sermon at ENCM, Mississauga, ON, May 15, 2022.
2 BibleGateway. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2017%3A9&version=ESV (Accessed on May 26, 2022)
3 Bible Hub. https://biblehub.com/matthew/6-3.htm (Accessed on May 26, 2022)
4 The NIV Bible. https://www.thenivbible.com/blog/it-is-finished/ (Accessed on May 26, 2022)

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