WHEN YOU DO…
Matthew 6

God is not a God of accident neither shall He bless anyone by accident. He will not give what belongs to the right hand to the left hand. Man makes mistakes and often blesses wrong people by mistake. God does have all of His Word laid out for us and none of His word will go back to Him without first performing what it set out to perform. He gave Jesus without any condition and He will not bless without meeting His condition for blessing. Jesus, when He saw the multitudes, gave the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12). In His Beatitudes, He clearly spelled out different things that need to be done in order to provoke a relevant blessing for what is done. Jesus stated in Matthew 6:6, “…When you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” Jesus was not giving a suggestion. It was not a request for “if you pray” but rather it is a command that ask for “When you pray”. His command has to be done for the blessing of having prayers answered by God. Among other commands that were laid out for the provocation of blessing were: “…when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.”(Matthew 6:2-4) Here, Jesus pointed out the blessing that comes for doing charitable deeds. It is not an option; it is a matter of doing and it will always be backed by blessing. Among His teaching, Jesus also brought it to our attention that, “…when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” (Matthew 6:16-18) Which of these three: fasting, praying and charity, are you actively doing with expectation for the manifestation of its blessing? It is important to do what He asks us to do and get its blessing. The Word of God is not a story but it is power to stir you for His glory.

Prayer for today: Lord I ask for the grace to constantly apply Your words of wisdom as they come to my heart.