"... for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. " Matthew 6:8

Father, I woke up yesterday and I had all the words. When I talked to You the words flowed from my heart and through my lips. It was a good prayer day. I could ask for blessings on my fellow travellers; I could could wax elequent about the need to reach out to my circle of influence; I was thankful for financial blessings you had provided; I could praise you for the many wonderful people and events you have made available for me. And through all that, you patiently listened without looking bored... and smiled... and quietly said, "I knew that".

Today is a different day. The words don't come easily. My mind is muddled with a thousand pressing issues to resolve. The world seems to be pressing in on me... the pressure and the pain is nearly unbearable. I try to talk with you, but it just doesn't seem to work. You seem far away, and all the stressors in my life are right here. And through all my struggling to express my thoughts, you patiently listen... and you put your arms around me... and quietly say, "Don't worry about it... I already know".

Thank you for being so patient with me. Thank you for encouraging me to talk with you, even though it's old news. I guess I really am your kid, huh.
- posted by Steve R. @ 6:56 AM

 
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them... " Matthew 6:7, 8a

I work with a fellow who loves to hear himself talk. It doesn't matter what you have to do, how urgent the situation, or whether or not you really want to talk... He insists on monopolizing the conversation. It doesn't matter what the topic is, he's the expert. He's done it all, seen it all. And unfortunately, most of the time he's not quite got all the facts. As a result, some of the conclusions he draws are really screwy. We've all had to deal with these personality types... You stand there, your mouth watering with gossip trying to get your edge in wordwise...

I wonder if God ever feels that way about me?

Father, let me be succinct in my thought and word. May the words from my mouth be relevant. Father, let me know if I'm boring you... trying to impress you with my analysis... trying to boss you around. OK, I'll shut up now and listen.
- posted by Steve R. @ 6:47 AM

 
"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:7

Following the pattern of "Here's what everyone does - Here's what I intended you to do", this verse is the last half of the act of common prayer. Christ has just said, don't be like the religious leaders who stand out on the street corner making a lot of noise with their praying. Instead, I am to pray in the secret of my own room.

I don't think the verse means never pray in public... nor does it mean never to talk about prayer. There is a place for public prayer. When I was a teenager, I was active in Youth For Christ. A group of about 15 of us were on a weekend trip to attend a rally and we gathered together to eat dinner. Before eating, we bowed our heads, and our leader led us in a blessing for the food. It was simple, it was brief. When we had finished eating, we became quite irritated when our server never brought us our check. Finally, we flagged her down and found out that another patron who had seen us stop to pray before eating picked up the tab.

Just recently, my brother and I were travelling with our parents to see our Uncle Wendell who was in the hospital. During the trip, we got to talking and found out that our Dad was quite a prayer warrior. We found out that every night before going to sleep, Dad prays for every member of his family, every member of his church (by name) and all his friends, fellow ministers and missionaries. Who knew?

I understand that I don't have to make a show about prayer. I can pray with my eyes open, I can pray while driving, and I've spent a lot of time praying over four-foot side hill putts. It's not the first part of the verse that really grabs me, though... it's the last half... The part that goes, "Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Why is it that I constantly forget that I can't keep a secret from God? Why is that I keep thinking that my thoughts and actions in private don't have anything to do with God? David Meece tells about how he would play rock-and-roll music instead of practicing his assigned music when his mother was gone. He never got caught because his mother's car had a bad muffler... he would hear her coming down the street a block away. By the time she came in the door, he was playing a 3-part Bach invention instead of "Why Don't We Do It In the Road". The only problem is that God doesn't have a bad muffler!

By the way, there's a pay-off. The last phrase says God will reward me. So, in the context of the previous verses, if I pray so other people will praise me then that's my reward... pray in secret and God will reward me. Let me see... who would I prefer to give me a reward?

Father, you know that I forget that you are right there next... no!... inside me all the time. So many things I do grieve your Spirit. My secret thoughts and actions bother me... how much more they must bother you. Help me to make my thoughts your thoughts. Help me to act in the way you would act. I love you... now I've got to act like it!
- posted by Steve R. @ 6:16 AM

 
"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. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full." Matthew 6:5

I think I'm starting to see a pattern here... Christ is pointing to the religious leaders of the day and saying If you wanna do it right... don't do what they are doing. This past Sunday I attended the National City Christian Church in Washington, DC with my family. It was a VERY traditional service with one of the largest pipe organs in the area, a very formal worship structure, and all the verses of the hymns. You can imagine my surprise when the minister, Dr. Alvin O'Neal Jackson, stood behind the pulpit and declared that Satan had tried to destroy the Church twice: First, through the crucifixion and then by getting the disciples of Jesus to worship the Christ. He continued to point out that Christ never asked us to "Worship" Him... he asked us to "FOLLOW" Him. Christ is criticizing the religious leaders of the day for worshipping God without Following Him.

I think I go too far the other way much of the time. I'm too often a closet Christian. By closet Christian, I mean that want to follow Christ, but I'm not too quick to let people know that is what I'm doing. I have a hard time discerning the line between obedience and a "holier than thou" attitude...Of drawing the line between witnessing and being over-bearing.

I'm not sure I'll get it figured out today... but the one thing I'm realizing is that worship is important. It speaks more of my relationship to God than it does of my actions for God. It has more to do with a quiet conversation between Father and child than it does a 25000 megawatt amplifier blaring out calls to prayer.

Father,.................................................................................................................Thank you.
- posted by Steve R. @ 2:38 PM

 
"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:2-4.

Killer hours at work including a stretch that went 48 hours, and a wonderful visit for the weekend from my wife and parents have kept me a little out of pocket. The visit was wonderful. For nearly a half-century my parents have made sure that my brother and I have been exposed to history and places of interest both in the US and abroad. This past weekend the tables were turned and Marcia and I could show my parents the sights of D.C. that have been added since their last visit. The Iwo Jima memorial, a tour of the Pentagon, the FDR Memorial and a leisurely tour. We had an opportunity to experience new things, Dad ate Pho (a Vietnamese noodle soup) for the first time, and we attended a wonderful worship service at the National City Christian Church. I wish that Karla and Bill could have been here, too. I'm back on line now... And while this was originally intended as a way of communication family devotions with my wife, I've come to realize that there is an extensive extended Christian family that links to this site. Thank you for your patience over the last week. Let us continue to look at the great discourse of Christ, the Sermon on the Mount.

This verse is pretty straight forward on the surface... When you give to the poor, don't tell anyone about it... At least don't make a big thing out of it. The historical background is that the religious leaders of the day would go through the city and as they would give their alms, would have one of their entourage blow a shofar or trumpet to get people's attention. Basically, they would create a media moment and then would drop a few small coins into hand or cup of the beggar. This is the practice that Christ was criticizing in this passage... And basically he was saying, "If you are going to help, then help... But don't make a spectacle out of the process".

I'm a giver. I learned it from my Dad. I don't even have a clue as to how much my parents have given away in my lifetime... And I'm not sure even they would know. I enjoy giving to special needs and programs, to people in my church who have needs. I'm always hard pressed to come up with the right figure for how much I've given during the year come tax time. I've also been responsible for managing funds created by a group of churches to help transients in the local community. I love to give. I'd give you the shirt off my back if you had need of it. I'd like to think everyone is that way, but I know better.

Now that I've said that, I've blown my cover. According to this verse I need to change my name to Anon Amos. I like to give because of how it makes me feel. I like to see the smiles, I like trying to make a difference. But there's a darker side to this process as well. Sometimes people give (myself included) to get something in return... Or because it can create a sense of control. Our government has learned this lesson well. Fifty-three cents out of every tax dollar goes to entitlement programs. Why? Many programs were created to gain public support for the government so they could sound the trumpet and let the people know how much good they are doing for them. Throughout the City of D.C. you can find buildings that were created by trusts, and a stipulation of the gift would be that the building be named for the benefactor. Christ is saying, that's fine... But they have all the reward they are going to get.

On the other hand, giving in secret is what is intended. Our motivation should be out of love, and compassion... Not for tax deductions and notoriety. When we give in a proper manner, we still get a payback... But this time it is from God. Hmmmm... Personal pride or the Treasury of the Universe... Wonder where I'd prefer to receive my payback?

Father, it's been a busy time... And the weeks ahead will remain busy. Allow your Spirit to open our eyes to the needs around us. Prevent our hearts from being calloused by the misuse of that which we do give. Allow us to give in one way, that those to whom we give will see Christ. Thank you for your gift to me... Salvation through your Son. Now, help me to "Pay it Forward".
- posted by Steve R. @ 9:04 AM