I was spending time in Matthew 6 this morning, and came across where my bible has these two verses highlighted and a line drawn showing the similarities. I probably could have written a couple of pages pouring my heart out on these, especially Fasting. If you have never Fasted, I would encourage you to seek God’s wisdom regarding this topic. If you feel God leading you Fast, you cannot come out the other side of a prolonged Fast the same. It is a game changer in your relationship and walk as a Christian. You will have a new spiritual awareness that you have never had before, for just as Matthew says here “He will reward you openly.”
We are almost through our 30 days without the News. ‘Yay,’ and ‘oh well’ in the same refreshing breath. I hope that this month you have felt refreshed without all the mayhem, and I hope that God has used me to encourage you in some way. I will be continuing these short daily devotionals, and I am trying to decide on the best way to continue the distribution. Many of you are my Facebook friends (Michael Anderson in Huntersville -friend me!), and I have also secured a domain name (Huge God story) at http://www.oneminuteministry.me and of course this email structure also. We are told to use all the means given to us to share the Good News and the glory of Christ.
Hope you all have a great weekend!
Anderson
Just between you two
Matthew 6: 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
Private, personal things, held in secret between you and God. The similarity in these two verses is astounding. Here they are speaking of the Holy God who’s omnipresence means God is everywhere, even you think you are alone. You cannot hide from God. But you can also rest in that assurance of when you approach God alone, He is always there. Matthew 6 is a very powerful chapter, and speaks much of how people do things to be seen and heard to gain the respect of men. God tells us that they get what they want, an earthly reward, but miss the heavenly treasure if it had been done in secret to honor God, and not themselves.
Private prayer is something every Christian should seek and do regularly. Fasting is a powerful means to consecrate yourself to honor God, by denying yourself the pleasures of delicacies, and replacing them with spiritual nourishment. Both of these in this context are God honoring private time between just you two. It is not for your glory, but His. We all have someone close of whom we may share deep personal things, and that strengthens our relationship. How much more do you suppose, when you share secret things with God, that honor and glorify God?
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