God Knows Your Heart

"Today's Devotion" October 24, 2005

Read: Matthew 6:16-18; II Samuel 12:13-23

GOD KNOWS YOUR HEART

"...and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly." (Mt. 6:18b)

The other day there was a small article in the entertainment section of the local newspaper regarding a well-known film actor/director. It seems he decided he wanted to help the victims of Hurricane Stan in Mexico. He arranged a meeting with Mexican President Vincente Fox to give him a donation of one million dollars. Of course the gift and meeting were publicized, photographs printed, and praises rendered. Thus there was nothing quiet about the gift or who gave the gift. While the gift would have been just as effective if given quietly and unannounced, the individual who gave it appears to have been seeking recognition for his philanthropy - by sharing what God had already given to him. Yet, as is so often the case in a world that gives rewards for good deeds performed, heroic acts accomplished, and political favors rendered, such was not the case. The benefactor apparently needed to be acknowledged and recognized, which isn't uncommon when people make "sacrifices" for a "good cause."

Reward is at the heart of the issue. Our Scripture readings for today focus on the third pillar of Jewish piety - fasting. According to the Old Testament, God called His people to fast on the Day of Atonement as a sign of repentance and sorrow over their sins. II Samuel 12 gives a clear example of the intent of fasting in the life of King David - repentance and sorrow over one's sin, the seeking of God's forgiveness, and a change of heart on the part of the penitent one. At the same time, David fasted in private, didn't go out while he was fasting, and when the time came to end the fast he cleaned up, dressed appropriately, and showed no evidence of fasting when he came out of his seclusion. What a sharp contrast to the picture accorded us in Matthew's Gospel. Jesus' words in His Sermon on the Mount indicate that fasting had become a public spectacle among those who should have been setting an example for the people of God. Fasting had become a practice that people advertised by putting on ashes, donning sackcloth, looking gaunt, and ignoring cleanliness in a very public way. In many cases those who fasted in this way set themselves up as paragons of virtue, piety, and religious fervor. Ultimately, whether we're talking about the act of fasting or the act of giving in service to others it comes down to a question of what we're doing it for and where our hearts are.

You and I have received a multitude of blessings from God. We have been brought to faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior from Sin. His suffering, death, and resurrection have made it possible for us to stand before our God and Father cleansed from our sins and holy in His sight. We're called by faith to a life of service to others in Jesus' name. We're blessed with many gifts of God's storehouse of blessings, each of us in our own way according to God's Will for each of our lives. We carry out acts of pious devotion to our God, not for the world to see and not for thoughts of reward, but because we know such devotion is pleasing to our heavenly Father and it's a pleasure and privilege to worship Him in our lives and service every day. In the end, whether we're talking about "fasting" or "giving," the whole point of our faith and relationship with our Father in heaven through Christ is that God knows our hearts. Because of this, we are also certain that He blesses us and rewards us according to His good pleasure. We understand, by faith that our Lord Jesus calls upon us to do what is right and pleasing to God, not for show, but from the motivation of faith and love. We respond to God in prayer and sacrifice because of His grace, mercy, and love to us in Christ. When we take advantage of ways God shows us to deepen our spiritual relationship with Him we do so without fanfare or desire to be noticed by others, knowing that our "Father who sees in secret will reward (us) openly."

Prayer: Thank You, Father, for giving me ways to practice my faith and to be strengthened in my relationship with You. Let me never put my devotion to You or service to others in Jesus' name on display to impress others, gain their adulations, and achieve earthly rewards. Instead, gracious Father, lead me to perform my personal acts of devotion and sacrifice so that they are known only to You. By the power of Your Word and Spirit, help me to understand how special and essential Your reward for my faithfulness will be, and how useless and meaningless the adulation and rewards of the world stand in comparison. Be with me each day that I may serve You humbly and faithfully as a true witness of Your love, grace, mercy and forgiveness in Jesus; in Whose precious and most holy name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright ©2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.