Embrace the Within no. 136

“Also, when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to pray [publicly] standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets so that they may be seen by men. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, they [already] have their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your most private room, close the door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you.”

Matthew 6:5-6 AMP

There is something about people loudly doing something to draw attention that has always been unsettling to me. Whether it is the loud people in public drawing attention to themselves for personal gain, if it’s the television commercials that are much louder than the other commercials, or the folks that are loudly making a spectacle of themselves to bring change, I am not a fan of the spectacle. I find a lot of that selfish and pointless.

Christ says that those folks that are looking for attention even at the places of worship are being selfish and hypocritical as well. Maybe it isn't always praying loudly BUT it can be any number of things to get us noticed by other image bearers. Again, it is important to focus on my heart when I am doing any of these things.

Why am I being loud? What am I bringing attention to myself? What is the purpose of this spectacle?

So, why am I truly doing good. Is it for an earthly reward? Is it for a heavenly reward? Or is it not for the reward at all?

Worship is not the place for eyes to be centered on me. Worship is a place to come into His presence. If I am serving the church and looking for a plaque or a shout out or a pat on the back, then I am totally missing the point. I don’t serve to get recognition from my peers. I serve God because I am obedient to the Lord. He is in charge and not me.

If my motives are to receive the recognition of my peers, then I need to check my heart and my relationship with Him.

'And when thou prayest, be not as the hypocrites: for they loue to stand, and pray in the Synagogues, and in the corners of the streetes, because they would be seene of men. Verely I say vnto you, they haue their rewarde. But when thou prayest, enter into thy chamber and when thou hast shut thy doore, pray vnto thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret, shall rewarde thee openly. '

Matthew 6:5-6 GNV

So what does my heart say about my motivations? I need to spend a lot more time contemplating why I am drawing attention from the Lord and onto me. Is this for my glory? Is this for God’s glory? Is this for attention? Is this for adoration? Is this for thanks? Am I advertising my service to the Lord as a way of getting noticed?

I pray that my service comes from a heart that is aligned with what You want. I pray that I search my heart before bringing attention to my service of the Lord. I pray that my obedient example be one of encouragement to others. I pray that my service inspires more service in all of us as we walk like Christ.

I love you. I forgive you. Have a blessed and abundant day!

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoGodsNoMasters #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #NotMyWayYHWH