Daily Bread 2-13-18
The Sermon on the mount(cont'd)
Matthew 6:1,2
1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have the glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
ref. - Ro 12:8 - Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
The word of God in Jesus Christ tells us to do good things unto all men. But when we do them we often get caught up in the glory of men rather than the true purpose of why we are doing them. We are supposed to be doing good things for others and for God because that is what is in us. It is not just a here today gone tomorrow type of service. It is something that we will not get weary of as we are doing it out of a drive within us from the Holy Spirit and not necessity. Others will sound their trumpets and want to be seen and heard every time that they invite someone to Church or lift a finger to help out a Brother in need, but the glory of God will reign on those who perform according to his will and his instruction. If we pray to God in Jesus' name we can be filled with a giving, loving, merciful spirit that does not need recognition each time we do something good. It is similar to a trained athlete. They practice and work hard to become good at the sport that they are in. When they are good they will begin winning all types of awards. Eventually it will not be about the awards as they are only dust collectors on a shelf, it will be about constantly outdoing themselves in all they do. This is the same in Jesus Christ. We will become so good at well doing that we will far exceed the act of the people of this world. We will be winning at our race but it will not be about the individual recognition, it will be about excelling and doing better each time we perform. It will be about being the best Christian that we can be looking in the mirror and pushing ourselves to ever increase in the goodness and mercy that we are given in Jesus Christ!! Our joy will come not when we are on the pedestal but when others prosper and we were allowed by God to take even a tiny part in it. It will turn into moment after moment when we can look up and say, "I know that could only have been you God!! Thank you Jesus!!" The day when we will look into our own eyes and recognize that Christ lives within us and we are the most blessed ones on earth for it!! The day that a the Holy Spirit ever gives us witness that we are the children of God!! So, today and forever after, don't do it for you, do it for Him!!! Have a great day!!!