THURSDAY: FAITHFUL SERVICE IN SECRET
KEY PASSAGE
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven… your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
DEVOTIONAL
Here, Jesus warns us of our tendency to desire affirmation from people and from God. The religious leaders would often exchange their desire for God with a desire for approval of, status above, power over, and affection from people. And if we are honest, this is a universal tension among believers.
Every single human being possesses the fundamental need to be seen, known, and loved. We all need these three things to live a functional, joyful, relational, full life.
Life experience teaches you to meet the “seen, known, and loved” need with obedience, performance, achievement, loudness, cultural conformity, and applause. But in the Christian life, you must trust God to meet your “seen, known, and loved” need solely with himself.
Jesus asks to meet with you in the secret place and keep it just that– secret. He does this because he is after your heart. And your heart is instructed by your ego (your sense of self). And your ego is formed by the affirmation and rejection you experience. The secret place is where your worldly ego dies by allowing God to be your source of affirmation. Which means God defines your ego– your sense of self– and your identity! And it is only when you know who you are in Christ that you know how to live a life for him, which is a life serving God and others.
CHALLENGE
Have you been in the secret place lately? If not, take 10 minutes to be there.
What is God confronting you with in the secret place? Maybe he revealed negative thought patterns, limiting beliefs, or sinful behaviors. Remember, he brings this to mind because he is teaching you to see the identity he has for you, not to shame you.
Who does God bring to mind in the secret place? Maybe it’s someone you love, like your spouse, child, or best friend. Or maybe it’s someone you struggle to know how to love– a disgruntled co-worker, a needy neighbor, an offensive friend, an argumentative family member. Remember that a life spent with Jesus is a life spent serving others.
Whoever God brings to mind, take initiative to serve them today, knowing that God affirms your act of service even if this person never will.