WHICH AUDIENCE?
Opening Prayer
Praise God for all that he means to you.
Read Matthew 6:1–4
“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.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
In daily life we often perform for others. Reflect, then, on what Jesus shares about God’s personal sensitivity to our choices.At this stage in his sermon Jesus takes the question of mo-tives in a new direction. And if we pay careful attention we’ll find a touching insight about the Father. He actually attends to us like a parent. In any given moment he knows what we’re up to and why we’re doing it. It matters to him!
Parental imagery is familiar to us. We know how parents are delighted when one of their children does well. And, Jesus tells us, God’s title—“Father”—is fitting. He has a father’s heart for us. So picture a young child who offers her parent a treasured toy. How does the parent feel? A big hug is usually in order!
It’s this touching awareness that brings transformation. We aren’t drawn to God until we realize he is a caring Father—first to Jesus, and then to all of us who love the Son. And as much as we start to live with God’s pleasure in view, our attachment to him grows.
Apply
You may find yourself torn between pleasing yourself or the world and pleasing God. Choose to please God in your thoughts, actions and attitudes today.
Closing prayer
Jesus, I choose You. Grant me the grace to live for You today in all I do
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