"YOUR FATHER WHO SEES!"

Matthew 6:1-4                          (ESV)

"1 "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.

2 "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.

3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

4 so that your giving may be in secret. And "YOUR FATHER WHO SEES" in secret will reward you."

Most people have noticed that I most often capitalize words that identify GOD in any form.  Today, however, the word SEEN in verse one is capitalized merely to emphasize a word to not go unnoticed as we speed-read through this brief devotional.  

JESUS was speaking to HIS disciples and the "crowds" in what is known as the Sermon on the Mount.  HE had no sermon notes to draw from, yet HE nailed so many key things that we need to HEAR, even today.  The ministry of JESUS centered around GOD IS SPIRIT (John 4:24), and that "this world" was centered around itself!  We are to worship GOD ALMIGHTY in Spirit and Truth, but most of us try to worship HIM in flesh and material goods!  

Practicing our "righteousness" before men is tantamount to building a house that no one will ever live in or admire.  You can work to make it absolutely perfect, but when it comes time to show it off, a fire will consume it.  Your reward has already been consumed when you gave to be recognized, when you tried to do right for the wrong reasons!!

As I previously said, GOD IS SPIRIT and we who worship HIM must worship HIM in Spirit and Truth!  The things we accomplish Spiritually will be noted by THE SPIRIT OF GOD, WHO keeps flawless records.  "YOUR FATHER WHO SEES" is recording everything we do, and that is done to us, and HE will make sure it is justified in the end.  Don't try to settle w score on your own.  "YOUR FATHER WHO SEES" has it written down!!!