17 Feb 2010
Ash Wednesday
First Day of Lent

Bible reading: Matt 6:1-6, 16-21

The practice of faith

What is our motivation for acting out our faith? Here Jesus challenges our notion of Doing good works in order to win recognition and acclaim from the people around us. Comparing the approval and praise of men to "earthly treasures" that will perish in time, Jesus persuades us to aim for our Abba's approval, "the Father who sees in secret will reward you" and to place our treasure in heaven ie the approval of our Lord. We have to realize and seek to please God rather than men. Ultimately, if we serve to please others, our service and faith have no eternal value. Where our treasure is, there our heart will be also.

Applications:
1) Is my service in my ministry and my daily devotion to God genuine and focused on winning the approval of God, not man? Sometimes ministry can be demanding and I can get distracted by the form, not the substance. At the same time, I must be on guard that I am not serving to make myself more popular or attract attention but out of my love for God.

2) How much does other people's view of me affect the way I serve and obey God? Does the opinions of others, negative or positive, make me change my service just to fit them? In the area of outreach, do I just go through the motions to assuage myself, or do I really dare to provoke and challenge my friends out of love for them? Do I dare to make unpopular but Godly decisions?

Commitment:
Do not allow myself to be swayed by emotions or expectations in doing God's work.
Pray for my faith life to be real and genuine such that others around me will also be drawn to the Truth of God's love.