But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. Matthew 6:6 NABRE
Jesus teaches about giving, prayer and fasting. Jesus’ main point is that we should not do things as a means to receive gratitude from those who know us or see our doing. Rather the good we do should be for the eyes of God only. Jesus’ point is that if you do something for glory now then you have received all the reward you will ever receive. But if we do good for God’s eyes only then we can count on God providing good for us when appropriate. Jesus doesn’t want us to do good for credit, we are risking the reputation of all Christians when we act individually. Jesus desires we do good; we give, pray and fast but for the good of all Christians. When as Christians good is done in the name of Jesus we create a desire for others to seek out Christians or even become Christian themselves. Quietly doing good, praying and fasting is how the movement of Christianity grew as an early mission. By demonstrating love people are attracted which grows the Christian movement.
It is interesting that the words from this verse and surrounding verses are read in many western Christian church services on a day called Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is the opening of a season of prayer and fasting called Lent. Lent exists so we may mimic the forty days that Jesus spent in the desert preparing for His public ministry. The day is called Ash Wednesday because Christians go to their local church and get an ash mark on their forehead as a reminder of their dependence on God. It has become a popular public display of their Christianity. It is one day when Christians display whose they have become.
How do you give, pray or fast? Do you seek private thanks from God?
Quietly doing good, praying and fasting is how the movement of Christianity grew as an early mission. By demonstrating love people are attracted which grows the Christian movement. Click To Tweet#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #fast #lent #Matthew #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #cross #last #Matthew #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways