Verse of the Day 1/8

Verse of the Day 1/8

Matthew 6:3-4

English Standard Version

3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

We've recently been considering how Jesus called us to do good, we've considered our motives in doing good.  Today's passage begins with a warning that we don't do things in order to be seen, it should be from the heart, knowing that God sees and that is all that matters,  He will take care of us He will reward us.

There are three statements about activities that are expected of us.  In three instances in Matthew 6 Jesus says "when you" followed by what it is that is a given for us.  He states "when you give" in verses 2 and 3; "when you pray" in verse 7; and then "when you fast" in verses 16 & 17.  Jesus' sermon and His statements should cauise some self reflection.

How am I doing with giving, not only of our financial resources but our time with God and in serving others?  How are we doing with prayer?  Do we regularly carve out time to go to the Lord in prayer, in praise, in thanksgiving along with our needs and desires?  The last one, when you fast, is one that is not given that much attention.  I know that it is one that is neglected on my part.

I won't get into what qualifies as a fast, but we should be able to forego eating at some point for a meal, half a day or longer with a focus on prayer and communion with God, with physical hunger causing us to realize that we should also be hungering for God.

When we do these things we can be encouraged that by Jesus summary to the sectiojn, "And your Father who sees in secre will reward you". Matthew 5:18b

These principles will have an impact on our life.  I'll close with something written by Pastor James Smith on prayer.  May it lead you to say a prayer.

Prayer is . . .

an elevation of the soul towards its Maker,

a pressing sense of our own ignorance and infirmity,

a consciousness . . .

of the perfections of God,

of His readiness to hear,

of His power to help,

of His willingness to save.

Prayer is not an emotion produced in the senses, nor an effect wrought by

the imagination--but a determination of the will, an effusion of the heart.

Sincere prayer gives . . .

a tone to our conduct,

a law to our actions,

a rule to our thoughts,

a bridle to our speech,

a restraint to wrong passions,

a check to ill tempers.

That sincer prayer will likely lead to the others.

Blessings,

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 6:1-4

English Standard Version

Giving to the Needy

6 "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

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 have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.