“Go Into Your Room, Close The Door And Pray To Your Father”
“Be
careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by
them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
“So when you give to
the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues
and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have
received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your
left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in
secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in
secret, will reward you.
“And
when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in
the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell
you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your
room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward
you.
Matthew 6:1-6
“When
you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their
faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received
their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your
face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only
to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in
secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:16-18
The
Pharisees drew attention to the “good things” they did. As Christians we are told
not to draw attention to ourselves. Our attention should go to God and to
Jesus. We are to serve as witnesses to what has been done for us.
We do
not serve Jesus for the rewards. When He died for us on the cross, He did far
more for us than we deserve. Loyalty to Him is an act of worship that expresses
our loving gratitude for His love toward us. In return, He delights to
encourage us with the assurance that ultimately His rewards will outweigh
whatever we have given up for Him.
Live for Jesus – regardless of the cost.
What is done for Christ in this life will be rewarded in
the life to come.
Our Daily Bread –