Scripture: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
Journal: What does your secret life look like? Who are you when no one is looking? Is your secret life more intimate with God,
or is your public life? Why?
Reflection:
“Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:4, 6, 18) It is a
phrase that Jesus repeats three times in 18 verses. Therefore, it must be pretty
significant. And each repetition is
connected with a particular practice of the faith that is intended to cultivate
our life and intimacy with God. Unfortunately,
they are also practices that, when made public, can make us look like we are
more intimate with God than we really are—which then becomes our motivation. It’s like someone who talks so much about how
intimate their relationship is with their spouse that you get a sense that they
are trying really hard to convince you of something that, in reality, just
isn’t true. The Pharisees were like
that, and it drove Jesus crazy.
So why is God so insistent
on secrecy? There are lots of reasons,
I’m sure. But I think one of the main
reasons is because secrecy is the best soil for true intimacy to grow. Intimacy is not something that can be
broadcast without losing its essence. It
requires authenticity; play acting is not allowed. If we are not real how can we ever
hope for true intimacy with anyone, much less God? Secrecy is that space where we are able to be
our true selves, and to offer those true selves to God. Secrecy is that space where we are not
concerned with perception, or impression, or applause, but can seek the
attention and affection of God alone. It
is the space of true transformation.
Prayer
Closing
Prayer: Lord Jesus, cultivate within me this
wonderfully intimate secret life with you, where I am concerned only with your
approval and affection. Amen.
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