“GO INTO YOUR ROOM!”

Matthew 6:5-6                               (ESV)

“5 "And when you pray, YOU MUST NOT be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, THAT THEY MAY BE SEEN BY OTHERS. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

6 But when you pray, “GO INTO YOUR ROOM” and shut the door and pray to your FATHER who is in secret. And your FATHER WHO sees in secret will reward you.”

Recently I witnessed a political figure offering a farewell address to the constituents of their area served.  The “Legacy” we leave is not something we can predetermine or script.  It is what others SEE us as doing.  Some people SEE good, other not so much.  However, when all is considered, what we do for the LORD will be what really lasts!  

As I have written many times, I refer to several versions of Scripture in my Bible Study.  Matthew 6:6 has some very interesting translations for “GO INTO YOUR ROOM”.  The include, go away by yourself, go into your inner room, enter into thy closet, go into a room alone, enter into thine inner chamber, and go into your private room, just to relay a few!  It is rather simple to discover that ALMIGHTY GOD isn’t interested in building HIS Kingdom around the proud, but the humble. For me, being humble isn’t an option, but occasionally I have to be reminded by the HOLY SPIRIT, and sometimes HE has to break me to be able to mold me into what HE wants me to be.

As the Christmas Season is upon us, I am compelled to GIVE to others because CHRIST gave me the ultimate gift and I want others to experience that JOY!  But giving so that I can make a scene and draw attention to my generosity is exactly what JESUS warned against in the Scripture above.  True, HE was speaking about prayer, but HIS whole premise was elevating GOD and humbling ourselves.  We can’t truly WORSHIP HIM with too high of an opinion of ourselves.  In 1 Timothy 1:15, the Apostle Paul says “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that CHRIST JESUS came into the world to SAVE SINNERS, OF WHOM I AM THE FOREMOST”.  Paul saw himself compared to a HOLY GOD, not a HOLY GOD as a gift bag!

When we “GO INTO YOUR ROOM” our intent should be to express how unworthy we are to have the attention of our CREATOR, and that HE would take time to listen to us!  Instead, sometimes I approach HIS THRONE like a drive-thru window at a fast-food establishment.  In Matthew 27:50-51 Scripture records “And JESUS cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up HIS spirit.  And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split”.  JESUS paid a unimaginable price for us to be able to “GO INTO YOUR ROOM”! Will you act as though you are getting a quick burger, or will you feast at HIS table???