Seeking God's Glory, Not Our Own
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Devotional by J.Pierce
Scripture: Matthew 6:1-4 "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. 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 others. Truly I tell you, 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."
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Devotional
One Saturday morning, Jane, a devoted Christian, decided to volunteer at her local food pantry. As she worked diligently, she couldn't help but think about how she should share her acts of service on social media. Her friends and family needed to know how committed she was to helping others, right? However, as Jane was about to take a photo, she paused and remembered Jesus' words in Matthew 6:1-4.
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In this passage, Jesus warns against practicing righteousness to be seen by others. He teaches that our acts of service should not be motivated by the desire for recognition, but by a sincere heart that seeks to glorify God. When we give or serve others, Jesus calls us to do it in secret, knowing that our Father in heaven sees our actions and will reward us accordingly.
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Like Jane, we may sometimes find ourselves seeking recognition or validation from others when we engage in acts of service. However, Jesus challenges us to examine our motives and refocus our intentions. Our goal should be to serve others selflessly, with a genuine love for God and our neighbors.
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Paul, in 1 Corinthians 10:31, echoes this teaching: "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." When our primary motivation is to glorify God, we can experience a more profound sense of joy and fulfillment in serving others.
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As you go about your day, consider the motivations behind your actions. Are you seeking recognition from others, or are you genuinely trying to serve God and those around you? Remember Jesus' words in Matthew 6 and strive to serve with humility and love, seeking God's glory rather than your own.
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Prayer:
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Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus, who taught us to serve others selflessly. Help us to examine our motives and seek to glorify You in all that we do. May our acts of service be rooted in love for You and our neighbors. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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Further Study:
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