Monday, January 12, 2009

"Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:4, 6, 18

Jesus repeated this refrain to drive home a key truth concerning our walk with God. Like an iceberg that is partially seen above the surface but mostly hidden in the depths of the ocean so our walk with God is to consist of much hidden devotion to God. Our "acts of righteousness" (6:1) are to be done primarily for the eyes of God. It is necessary and appropriate to worship and serve God before the eyes of people in the context of the church and community. However, if the bulk of our devotion to God is done before people's eyes we may become empty religious performers ("hypocrites"). Beneath the surface of our public acts let there be a deep, hidden walk with God that is for His eyes only. Such a walk will recieve the Father's reward in the form of a rich relationship with Him and abundant grace from Him.

Father, help me to develop the deep and hidden devotion that You delight in that I may know the rich relationship and favor with You that You have caused my heart to desire.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
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4 comments:

  1. UnknownJanuary 12, 2009 at 5:50 PM

    Well said Bro Mark! So let it be (Amen)...

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  2. AnonymousJanuary 12, 2009 at 8:35 PM

    All who seek to be seen by others while doing “God’s work” have their rewards in the being seen by others. Seeking and finding God in the “secret place” and without fanfare has an open and eternal reward. Then moving into the area of prayer, Jesus tells me that God already knows my needs. He gives me a model for prayer. I have been amazed for years how forgiveness keeps coming up in Scripture. Several times in these verses Jesus underlines the importance (absolute necessity) that a Christian who converses with the Almighty must also be a forgiving person. In short, I think God is telling me to be as forgiving toward others as He has and is toward me. Rejection and deep hurts beg us to be revengeful and resentful. I am discovering that anything less than total forgiveness only puts me in the prison of stinking thinking and damaging reflections. It is only a matter of time before directional unforgiveness toward someone begins to flow into otherwise healthy relationships and spoils them. In other words, I can not allow the smallest amount of unforgiveness to grow. Focus and priorities outline the rest of the chapter for me culminating with the command to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteous.

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  3. AnonymousJanuary 13, 2009 at 7:51 AM

    I appreciate being reminded in the Bible not to worry, it really helps to reiterate that the worry comes from a bad place. It can't be from God because he tells us not to do it. Matthew Ch. 6 is refreshing when there is so much around us to get worried about-I need to hear God say-stop doing that. Hope I am not the only one.

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  4. AnonymousJanuary 13, 2009 at 11:27 AM

    I read the last 2 chapters in The Message. When you have read these passages so many times, it's refreshing to read them from a different version. Chapter 5 talks about the legal issues surrounding marriage and divorce, but the message is clear for so many things. Verse 32 states "You can't use legal cover to mask a moral failure." Chapter 6 covers the Lord's Prayer. Look at this refreshing version:

    Our Father in heaven,
    Reveal who you are.
    Set the world right;
    Do what's best--
    as above, so below.
    Keep us alive with three square meals.
    Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
    Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
    You're in charge!
    You can do anything you want!
    You're ablaze in beauty!
    Yes! Yes! Yes!

    Finally, Chapter 6:22 says "Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have!"

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