+DEV+ Private Appointments

Date: April 26, 2011 2:39 AM
Topic: +DEV+ Private Appointments

Private Appointments

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men" (Matthew 6:5).
Scripture Focus: Matthew 6:1-6

A friend of mine once confessed he lived his life like the star of a movie, always on stage, feeling like the center of attention, playing to the crowd. Maybe we all do that to some extent. We orient ourselves to the opinions of other people, hoping to make a good impression. The Greek word translated here as "hypocrisy" means to wear a mask. When we live to be "seen by men," we inevitably put on a mask. That can even happen when we pray.

Jesus tells us the way out of this dilemma is to get absolutely alone with the Father - to go in and shut the door. Regular private meetings with the Father will train our hearts to live to be seen by Him rather than by men. Instead of the reward of human approval, we can learn to seek the reward of pleasing the Father. We can rest assured that He's pleased just by our being there, that He's always glad to be with us and that He's delighted by anything we do because we love Him.

Insight: "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy" (Luke 12:1).