Ian Barclay's Thought For The Day

A CHRISTIAN LOOKS AT MATTHEW’S GOSPEL
This how we do things
Reading: Matthew 6:1-8 Click to view passage

Here we are given a general principle to govern our devotional lives. One commentator translates verse one, “Take care not to try to demonstrate how good you are before men.” Jesus is talking about our giving, praying and fasting. All these areas are susceptible to wrong motives.
Our giving. Note Jesus doesn’t say “if” you give but “when.” “Seen” is not referring to a casual observation but to announcing your intention with trumpets. (ii) Our praying. Note the “when” again. Prayer is vital to our spiritual health but it is not to be done without thought or conviction. We are not giving God information he does not already have. Rather, he is training us in the art of spiritual communication and showing us how our relationship with him can grow.

Meditation: “Secret” and “unseen” – consider ways of being more unostentatious in our devotional lives.
Prayer pointer: Father, help me to be ever more ready to give and to pray.



Matthew: 24