Matthew 6:2"Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they havereceived their reward. English Standard Version (ESV)
Today's read through the Bible New Testament reading was from Matthew 6:1-18 where we'll go for today's verse. Reading through these 18 verses, 3 times Jesus states "when". In verse 2, "when you do a good deed", verse 5 "when you pray" and verse 16 "when you fast". He indicates that each of these things are assumptions, things that His followers should be doing in their everyday lives.
In each of the instances we are shown that we are not to make a spectacle of these things, to broadcast them for others to see and take notice with the intention of being rewarded by compliments or other. In each of the instances He states that your Father sees and that you will be rewarded, by your heavenly Father.
As we head out into the day, into this winter day may we be mindful to do good to and for someone, to pray, and to fast, to give up something and replace it with a time of prayer and considering your many blessings as we considered yesterday. Don't worry about being noticed, "the world is not a stage -work behind the scenes" (The Message) the most important One will notice.
Matthew 6:1-4The Message (MSG)
The World Is Not a Stage
6 "Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don't make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won't be applauding.
2-4 "When you do something for someone else, don't call attention to yourself. You've seen them in action, I'm sure—'play actors' I call them—treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that's all they get. When you help someone out, don't think about how it looks. Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out.
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