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Fame, notoriety, glory, wealth–all things which are sought after in life. Have you ever wished you could be famous? Isn?t it amazing that the people who are most admired in America are the athletes and the actors. Very few doctors or firemen or police officers ever become famous. Very few teachers or missionaries or social workers have their names up in lights. I think everyone would like to be noticed for something. It begins when we are children and I?m not sure it ever ends. There are those who we would call introverts, who seem to prefer that no one sees them, but I think they still have a need for someone to notice and accept them. The question for adults is how far will we go to be noticed? Who is it that we most want to impress? For Christians, we most often want other Christians to see us. We learn the right words or the proper way to dress to show our holiness. We want people to see how much like Jesus we are. Jesus said that if we do things to be noticed by other people, then that will be our reward. ?When you give to someone in need, don?t do as the hypocrites do?blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get?When you pray, don?t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get? And when you fast, don?t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get.? (Matthew 6:2, 5, 16)
The greatest fault that Jesus found in the religious leaders of his day was their desire to be noticed. He called it hypocrisy. ?Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels. And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues. They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ?Rabbi.?? (Matthew 23:5-7)
Everything that we do should be for God to see. All that we are should honor and glorify him?not ourselves. Jesus said that when we give or pray or fast or anything else, we should do it in private?just between us and our Father. ?And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.? (Matthew 5:18) Does that mean that we can never do anything publicly? No, but it does mean we need to question why we are doing it. Are we doing it for God or for ourselves? Do we preach or write books or sing or blog to be noticed by others and gain a large following? Is our primary purpose to make a living or to please God? No judgment is intended here. Only you and God know the depths of your heart. Whether anyone here on earth notices us or not, what does it matter as long as we are noticed by God? He is the one who died for us and rewards us with his loving kindness. In everything we do, may HE be glorified. ?God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.? (1 Peter 4:10-11)
Father, it?s all about you. I want to please you and glorify you. Help me to die to self and let your Spirit shine through me. Amen Keep the Faith
Original content at: http://becauseofyeshua.org/?p=78.
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Scott Bartchy is a radical. He believes in a subversive system that embraces those on the fringes of our society and seeks to establish a new way of life that goes against the status quo.