– Scripture:

                For Show

Instead of giving you God’s Law as food and drink by which you can banquet on God, they package it in bundles of rules, loading you down like pack animals. They seem to take pleasure in watching you stagger under these loads, and wouldn’t think of lifting a finger to help. Their lives are perpetual fashion shows, embroidered prayer shawls one day and flowery prayers the next. They love to sit at the head table at church dinners, basking in the most prominent positions, preening in the radiance of public flattery, receiving honorary degrees, and getting called ‘Doctor’ and ‘Reverend.’

                             Matthew 23:4–7 MSG

– Reflection:

It’s easy to go through life making decisions based on what other people will think.  Is there anything you do for GOD as a show to impress anyone? There shouldn’t be at all; GOD doesn’t worry about who’s watching when he blesses someone, and neither should we. Actually, I have given and left, or given and asked not to tell the person receiving. Giving for the show of it all is not a real person after GOD’s own heart or a person on fire for GOD. Matthew 23:5 above in the scripture, it is talking about the Pharisees and the clothing they wore, and the money they gave in public, also the people they knew and the places they sat at were places of reverence. Let’s not be those type of people. You want to give to those who need it with a show and expectance for praise, and you don’t need the hoopla for doing it. Being a blessing for someone is enough, be thankful that GOD chose you in that moment to be that blessing for someone.

Where do we go from here?

Don’t live under the pressure of trying to impress others, hiding how you feel, and acting as though everything’s okay. Get off that treadmill that will wear you out, stop your creativity, and steal your joy. Be real.

Our Prayer for Today

Father, thank You that You are looking for the real us, for us to be honest about our struggles, our weaknesses, and our fears. Thank You for allowing us to be free from living image-driven and be the person You created us to be. We have nothing to hide. Make us, mold us, and change us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.