Welcome to day 2 of our 40 day challenge! Today, we are in Matthew 6.

(You can catch up on our Intro, and Day 1 if you missed them)

Today we are in Matthew 6:

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Giving to the Needy

6 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

² “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 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. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Prayer

⁵ “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ⁶ But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Fasting

¹⁶ “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ¹⁷ But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Treasures in Heaven

¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

---

It’s so different for us today compared to the time of Jesus. Today, I don’t know anyone who is seeking approval or admiration from others by performing spritual acts publicly. To pray loudly on the street corner would not make others think well of us. So it may seem very easy to follow the commands of Jesus here, but as always, He cares about what we do, but He also cares about the heart behind what we do, and how it effects others. God made us for relationship with Him and with each other. A sense of belonging is a core need He created us with.

Jesus is showing them that God wants a relationship, not a performance. Just as in their day, God wasn’t honored by them performing being religious, we aren’t competing for how “Jesus-y” we can be. Everything we do must be out of gratitude and in love, not for the approval or admiration of others.

What do we do when no one is looking? What would we do if no one would ever find out?

Our aim as Christians is to become more and more like Jesus, and to bring His Kingdom as we go. Not for others to see and admire us, but because we love Him and we want others to have this love too. We don’t pray to get spiritual points, and we don’t give to get approval. We don’t fast so that others can think how dedicated we are. We do all these things in gratitude, for love and by love. We do them so that we can become more like Jesus. And we want to become more like Jesus so that others are blessed.

May we be people so full of God’s love that we give, and pray, and fast because we love Jesus so much and desire to give this love to others.

 

Options for further  journaling or discussion throughout the challenge:

• Choose a part of the passage to write out by hand. Writing by hand helps us slow down and focus on what the Lord might highlight for us in the passage. Our brains can focus and remember better by writing than just reading alone.
• Journal about what the passage brings to mind. Does the passage tell us anything about God? Does it tell us anything about our response to Him?
• Does your heart respond in gratitude to any part of the passage? Write or pray your gratitude to the Lord.

 

We’ll see you tomorrow, for Day 3 in Psalm 51!

We have power right now, but another storm is coming tonight. If tomorrow’s post is delayed, you’ll know why, and I’ll get it to you as soon as I can.

♥ Samantha