Verse of the Day 3/20
Matthew 6:3-4 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. New King James Version (NKJV)
For today's verses we will continue to look at verses that come to mind in relation to the hymn, "Great is Thy Faithfulness", after that initial statement the next words are "oh God my Father". The verses that came to mind are from Matthew chapter 6 in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount where Jesus speaks of our relationship with God the Father. The "religion" of the Pharisees had devolved into a system of following rules and regulations. What Jesus was pointing to was not religion, it was about a relationship and how to establish and maintain that relationship to the Father.
If you take your time and read through the first 18 verses of this chapter you will notice that Jesus mentions the Father 10 times. That in itself should be enough to command our attention. Sinclair Ferguson notes that "There is not a group of eighteen verses, eighteen chapters, or even 18 books in the Old Testament that refer to God as the Father 10 times. Neither does the entire Old Testament contain 10 intimate references to God as "Father".
As you read today's verses and the rest of the references in the sermon you will notice that we are given a list of things that we are to do as Christ followers that will be pleasing to God, they are all prefaced with the word "when". We read "when you give", "when you pray", when you fast". When we do these things from the heart, not to receive notice, praise and accolades from men but as a natural outflow of our disposition to love God and love others, God will take notice and He will reward us in whatever way He chooses.
The Pharisees made it a practice to perform their giving, praying, and fasting to be seen by other, by an audience. Read through the chapter and see how they did it all "for show". They received their reward, but not from God. The only audience that we need to be concerned with is an audience of One, that is God the Father.
O be careful little tongue what you say
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
So, be careful little tongue what you say
O be careful little hands what you do
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
So, be careful little hands what you do
Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. New King James Version (NKJV)
-- In Christ, Mike Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. NIV
Matthew 6:1-7 New King James Version (NKJV)
Do Good to Please God
6 "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you [a]openly.
The Model Prayer
5 "And when you pray, you shall not be like the [b]hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you [c]openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
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