Eternal credit is issued from an audience of One

Wednesday’s Word

After her journaling time, she reached for her study on Isaiah, praying for understanding to dispel her insecurities about this particular study. Within the first paragraph, she kept hearing “Matthew 6.” After the third time, she remembered the assignment they were to do before the next board meeting. She reached for her Bible, eager to begin.

Thanks for joining us for Wednesday’s Word with Kim-Evinda and Trench Classes United. Have you ever wondered how to apply what you read in the Bible to your life? Today’s blog offers a solution for this very powerful principle, one that will help us to not only abide in His word but be changed by it.

She remembered the first part of the assignment, which involved four things so that’s where she started. In her mind she rewound to the day before, scene by scene and prayed: God, please forgive me for certain attitudes, actions and negative words of yesterday towards those I love. Cleanse my heart that I can come to Your table clean.

2 God wash my mind of anything learned in the past about this portion of scripture that I might learn new truths, new revelations for where I am today and where you want to take me. 3 God, show me how this applies to my life, in my life today and 4 grant me the courage to carry these out. Amen.

So as I read through the first six verses, with many stops along the way, certain words sent me on a sort of personal detour as conviction seeped into my soul. I mean, it started in verse 1! “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them; otherwise, you have no reward from your Father in heaven.”

When we do something good, kind, generous, it needs to be for an audience of One. I’ve been known to make sure the person at the register taking my order saw me put a tip in there. Or how about boasting about all I’ve done for someone? Can you relate?

As I continued, the conviction seeped deeper, though not necessarily just for myself, but I’ve always struggled with how to maneuver through the whole social media platform thing with our ministry because of these words from Jesus Himself:: 2Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you (announce what you’re going to do) as the hypocrites (people who do eternal acts with earthly, hollow motives) in the synagogues and in the streets (social media can be replaced here) that they may have glory from men. Assuredly I say to you they have their reward (on earth but not in heaven!).

I can’t help but smile as I realize I only got through the first four verses of this passage 😊 And yet, my heart is heavy with this burden: how do we utilize social media as a way to encourage, draw others in without shouting about the good we’re doing, will do or can do? His word is clear about not letting the left hand know what the right is doing, in other words, in secret, for an audience of One.

I know I can’t change, control or convince others, Lord, but keep my motives pure as I use cyber space to heed the call.

Thoughtfully,
Kim-Evinda