01/14/2021
We are told to go into every nation delivering the good news of Jesus Christ, but at the same time we are warned not to practice our righteousness before others; does this sound like a contradiction to you? How should we go about telling people of God, and Jesus without presenting ourselves as righteous? The answer is twofold, and rather simple... don’t make the message you are teaching, or preaching, appear to be about yourself, and secondly, conduct your personal life of faith in secret.
““Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 6:1 ESV
How often do we see a church nearly fall apart when their pastor leaves, or is taken from them? This is rather common, but it can be an indication that the message which was intended to lift up Jesus, and bring glory to God might somehow have become misdirected. The focus of every Christian’s life, every pastor, Saint, and church, should be on Jesus Christ, and God our Father... otherwise we are seeking earthly rewards for ourselves, and pridefully negating the true, and humble, reward that comes from our Father in heaven. Always remember how we were taught by Jesus to pray...
“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.”
Matthew 6:9-10 ESV
These are more than words we are meant to say, they should be our guide in prayer, and in the way we live our lives. In everything we do or say God is to be hallowed, and glorified. Our desire should be that life on earth return to the state it was in before the fall of Adam and Eve... focused on loving, honoring, and glorifying God. Jesus reminds us...
“And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.”
Matthew 22:37-38 ESV
So if people begin to follow someone, or something other than God... the messenger... the Angel, the church... then what have we done, and how are we to correct what is happening? It is a common occurrence for people to confuse the messenger who brings good news with the master because messengers are projecting his voice, but this is dangerous ground for those receiving the message, and the messenger too! Correction should come quickly, and unambiguously. Jesus said as much when He was tempted...
“Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’””
Matthew 4:10 ESV
The Angel said as much to John in Revelation, and pastors, Saints, and others who bring the message, should likewise be quick in their correction today...
“I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.””
Revelation 22:8-9 ESV
So we are to deliver the message of God, and the good news of Jesus Christ, but once our message has been delivered we are meant to retreat into our secret place where we are to make an account in prayer of the results of our efforts to God the Father, ask in the name of Jesus, and continue to seek out our own salvation before Him with fear, and trembling; just as every other soul is meant to do. If we do this then there is no contradiction; God will be glorified, and we will live out our lives of faith as they are meant to be lived, and our churches will remain just another place of worship... not to be confused as the sole location where He can be found, for He is with us always, and everywhere.
“Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.””
Genesis 28:15-16 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for using us as your messengers to deliver your Word to all the world, and the good news of your Son Jesus Christ to every nation. Thank you for keeping us humble as we make our way, and for giving us the voice of correction when others confuse us, the mere messenger, with you our God by attempting to glorify us, or the institutions you have put in place. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God to whom all glory is due, and from whom all blessings flow. Praised be your name for every calling you assign us, and for guiding us in our efforts by your will. Great are you, and weak are we before you. Hear our voices as we lay prostrate at your feet in our secret places, and worship you with all our heart, soul, and mind. Have mercy on us by forgiving our indiscretion for every second we allow others to mistake us as being worthy of the slightest glory you deserve, or for allowing them to thank us for a blessing you may have delivered through us. You are with us always Lord, and though others may see the reflection of our faith in some way, we pray that our true righteousness be reserved for your eyes, and pleasure, only. Wash us clean with the blood of your Son Jesus as we go about the world, and when our mission for you is complete we pray that you find in us the same obedience, and reflecting the same righteousness that you called pleasing, and worthy in Jesus. Seat us at your table, and give us a voice of worship forevermore.
““Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 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 6:1-4 ESV
Rich Forbes