FAITH CAPSULE: Do not be hypocrite but live life to give God regard constantly.

Matthew 6

Seeking God is giving regard to God that is jealous. Exodus 34:14 identified God stating, “For you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” God also said in His commandment, “For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God…” God desires, He deserves and He request from us to live life by giving Him regard with all our heart. Giving God regard at every breath is worthy as Psalm 150:6 stated, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” Giving regard to God demands consistency not a casual approach. Giving regard to God can be likened to sowing and expecting to reap. How man sow determines what man reaps. In life, regardless how banana and plantain looks alike, it is not possible to sow banana and expects to reap plantain.
To fear God is to love God, to fear God is to seek God by giving Him constant regard. Deuteronomy 10:12 buttressed, “what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul” To fear God is giving regard to God, it is taken a position for being pitied by God as psalmist stated, “As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him.” (Psalm 103:13)
Giving regard to God can be described as thinking of God highly, giving God admiration and giving esteem to God. Giving regard to God is rooted in giving respect and honor to jealousy God. Jealousy God demands attention from His creation. His works or the operation of His hands should never be looked over but be given attention. Psalm 28:5 pointed out what a failure to regard God is about, “Because they do not regard the works of the Lord, nor the operation of His hands, He shall destroy them and not build them up.” (Psalm 28:5)
Giving regard to God is to do good which pleases God. When we move to regard God is not only when we are pressed down by challenges of world. When we want to give regard to God is to reach Him for the goodness of His awesomeness. Among way of doing good to please God are:
Charitable deeds which please God; approaching God with prayer that is not hypocritical; fasting to God without reservation but to give regard to God. Doing such good as mentioned are not only engaged in time of challenging situation but give attention to God for His awesomeness. Doing good to please God should not to impress man but to press further in relationship with God. Do not be hypocrite but live life to give God regard constantly.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to live life of giving Him a worthy regard.