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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Monday, 8 January 2024:
Matthew 6:3-4 — But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Matthew 6:6 — But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Matthew 6:17 — But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Today, Jesus teaches on the secret life of the Christian which worships, gives, prays, and fasts without anyone other than God knowing. Today’s teachings seem to contradict what Jesus taught in our earlier readings – “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) So which is it? Is our devotion to be public or private? The answer is both.
Jesus is addressing both the fruit of the Christian life, which is observable to all, and the roots of the Christian life which is unseen by others. You can’t have real fruit unless you are truly united to the life of Christ and His love is producing genuine fruit through you. In John, Jesus says it this way –
– John 15:1-12 — I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
John later reiterates – “No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” (1 John 4:12)
Today’s verses address Christian character, who we really are rather than just who we say we are or who we appear to be to others externally. Someone once said, reputation is what others say about you, but character is what God says about you. Are we truly abiding in Christ, or are we merely hypocrites, which means ‘stage actors’? Are our good deeds truly acts of love or merely performances to receive the applause of others? As we examine ourselves, Jesus challenges us to be root inspectors rather than just fruit inspectors.
Today’s verses are a reminder that we are fully exposed before God, and we can trust Him in our nakedness – there is no need to hide from Him as Adam and Eve did in the garden (Genesis 3:10). He knows the truth of us we often attempt to hide from ourselves and others and loves us perfectly anyway. We can stop trying to perform for Him – He knows the true thoughts and feelings behind the prayers we utter, He knows the true motives behind our actions, and we can live openly and honestly before Him in full confidence of His love and grace as He completes in us the work He started – “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” (Romans 8:29) Abide in Jesus privately, and Christ will be revealed naturally (not artificially) through you publicly without you even thinking about it.
Jesus’ last words to us in today’s readings are, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Many people today are anxious about what God thinks about them (guilt), what others think about them, and about their futures. However, Jesus says, “Do not fear, only believe.” (Mark 5:36) If you are a Christian, you have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by your efforts (Ephesians 2:8), through Christ you have been made righteous (right with God; Romans 1:17; Romans 5:17-19; 2 Corinthians 5:21), a genuine child of God (1 John 3:1). God, the Creator, the Sovereign, the Almighty loves you perfectly and endlessly, and nothing can separate you from His love (Romans 8:31-39). In Christ, you no longer must struggle for approval, and you no longer must worry about your future – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11) “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) God knows what you are going through and what you will go through, and He knows that you won’t handle your circumstances perfectly. God says, “Fear not…. Trust me…. My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9)…. I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. (Joshua 1:5; Hebrews 13:5) Rejoice in the knowledge that you can stop performing, and it doesn’t all depend on you.
– Matthew 11:28-30 — Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
– Mark 5:34 — And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
– John 14:27 — Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Matthew 6:8-15 — Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Repetition is used for emphasis in the Bible, like we use an exclamation point. Remember the Beatitudes emphasized by repetition the inevitable persecution which comes with seeking out and loving the unloving. Today, in the Lord’s prayer, forgiveness is emphasized. I pray these words will really sink in today. What sort of forgiveness did Jesus demonstrate on the Cross? What were Jesus’ first words on the Cross? What sort of forgiveness have you received from Christ? Does your example of forgiveness testify to the Gospel you hope in and proclaim? Are you willing to deny self (sacrifice) to forgive? Would you really want God to forgive you in the same way you forgive others? Forgiveness is at the center of the heart of our Savior and at the center of the heart of the one who loves God with all his or her heart. Pray for His heart of forgiveness, take up your Cross daily, and follow Him in forgiving those on your mind right now ‘while they are still sinners.’
From Henry T. Blackaby – [Your Heavenly Father knows you] – “Even before we call on Him, the Father has already begun to provide all that we need (Isa. 65:24). Jesus wanted His disciples to learn how intimately God knew and loved each of them. That is why He told them to pray. He assured them that even before they prayed, God knew all about their situation.
Prayer is not designed for us to inform God of our needs, for He already knows them. Why, then, should we pray? Prayer enables us to experience God more intimately. The more a child experiences the loving provision of a parent, the more convinced he becomes of his parent’s unrelenting love. Often a parent will anticipate a child’s need before the child recognizes it and be prepared in advance to provide for that need. Our heavenly Father knows exactly what we will face today and next week. He is eager for us to experience Him as He provides for us.
To our surprise, we often discover that God knows far better than we do what is best for us. At times we assume that we know what would benefit us. We can even be foolish enough to assume that we don’t require anything of God. Yet God wants us to go to Him in our need (Matt. 7:7). He is ready to show His strength through our weakness. Our heavenly Father knows exactly what is best for us, and He is prepared to provide for every need, if we will but ask (Phil. 4:13).
[Hollowed Be Thy Name] Our calling as Christians is to bring glory to the name of God. God’s name represents His character. Taking the name of God in vain misrepresents God’s character to others (Exod. 20:7). As Christians, we carry the name of our Savior. The way we live and relate to others is a direct reflection on the name of Christ.
Doing something ‘in Jesus’ name’ is to do something that is in accordance with His character (John 15:16). It means that Jesus would be pleased to join us in what we are doing. If, however, our actions detract from God’s reputation, He will jealously guard His name. Sometimes we are too concerned with protecting the reputation of people but too little concerned with protecting the holy name of God. When the Israelites profaned God’s name before the nations by the way they lived, God “hallowed” His name: He made His name holy by punishing them (Ezek. 36:22). When David sinned before his nation, God publicly disciplined him in order to protect the holiness of His name.
We can so tarnish the name father before our children that it hinders them from loving God as their heavenly Father. We can be such unforgiving Christians that our sinfulness discourages people from seeking forgiveness from our God. We can show such disrespect for God as we worship Him that those observing lose their reverence of Him as well. Our supreme desire should be to glorify the name of God by the way we live.
We ought to pray daily, as Jesus taught us to, that God’s name be treated as holy.
[Your Kingdom Come] In heaven, God’s will is the only priority. A word from God brings angels to do His bidding, immediately and without question. Jesus instructed us to pray that God would accomplish His will in our world in the same way. This means that God’s purposes would be preeminent in our homes, our businesses, our schools, our churches, and our governments.
Jesus taught His disciples to pray that God’s purposes be carried out in the world around them. In modeling how they should pray, Jesus was teaching His disciples how to share God’s heart. He demonstrated this again at Gethsemane when He prayed ‘Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will’ (Matt. 26:39). It is as we seek God’s kingdom on earth, and not our own purposes, that we gain the same mind as our heavenly Father. We become co-laborers with God by praying faithfully in agreement with His desires.
As you seek the Lord’s will, He will guide your praying. He will invite you not only to pray, but also to become involved in His activity as He answers your prayer. If He places a burden upon you to pray for an individual’s salvation, that burden is also His invitation to join His activity in that person’s life. Prayer will prepare you to be a servant through whom God can bring about His will on earth. Pray that the Lord’s absolute rule on earth will begin in your life. Then watch to see how God uses you to extend His Lordship to others.
[Daily Bread] Jesus often reminded His followers not to worry. He told them not to be anxious about tomorrow’s needs or potential problems (Matt. 6:25). Rather, Jesus stressed a daily reliance on the Father, who provides for His children day by day.
As the Israelites wandered in the desert, they had no way to get food. Miraculously, God provided manna that appeared on the ground each morning. God’s provision was sufficient for one day at a time. Each day the children of Israel received fresh manna as a tangible reminder of God’s love for them. If they attempted to store it for the days to come, they found that it had spoiled by the next day. It was impossible to stockpile God’s provision, because God wanted them to trust in Him, not in their pantry. God’s grace was sufficient for each day.
God wants us to trust Him daily with our needs. This trust does not make us poor planners or careless with our futures, unprepared to face what may come. Rather, it keeps our relationship with the Lord in its proper perspective as He reminds us daily of our dependence upon Him. God is aware of what tomorrow will bring and how we should prepare for it. He knows the problems we will face, and He has already made provision for us to overcome them. He asks us to trust in Him daily. Our faith in Him today cannot substitute for our trust in Him tomorrow. If we walk with Him closely today, we will be in the center of His will tomorrow.
[And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.] Perhaps you consider yourself a forgiving person, but you are now facing someone whom you cannot forgive. Whenever you struggle to forgive, you need to revisit what you were like when God first forgave you. Ephesians 2 indicates you were a ‘foreigner’ and a ‘child of wrath.’ Yet God forgave your most grievous sin and rebellion against Him. While you were still rejecting God, Christ died for you (Rom. 5:8). This being so, how can you refuse to forgive those who sin against you? Forgiveness is not a spiritual gift, a skill, or an inherited trait. Forgiveness is a choice. Jesus looked down on those who had ruthlessly and mockingly nailed Him to a cross, yet He cried out: ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do’ (Luke 23:34). How, then, can we refuse to forgive those who have committed offenses against us?
Jesus said that the measure in which we are forgiving is the same standard God will use in forgiving us. God’s ways are very different from ours. God’s forgiveness is not based on standards we determine, but on the standards He established in His Word. God allows for no exceptions when it comes to forgiveness.
As we truly understand God’s gracious forgiveness in our lives, we will naturally want to express this same forgiveness to others (Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13). Before you ask God for His forgiveness, take a moment to examine the condition of your relationships. Would you want God to forgive you in the same way you are presently forgiving others?” “Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 8 January 2024: Today, devote yourself to your private life with the Lord, and let it be revealed naturally to others.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 