Secrecy in Good Deeds
Discipleship S.T.E.P.S.: Practice
Scripture: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. – Matthew 6:4 (KJV)
The desire for human applause is a subtle snare that can turn a holy act of service into a vanity project. Jesus warns us that when we perform our good deeds to be seen by men, we have already received our reward—the fleeting, shallow praise of the world. But when we act in secret, we invite the Father into our intimacy; we declare that His opinion is the only one that truly matters.
Examine your motives today. When you give serve or show kindness do you feel a pang of disappointment if no one notices? If so treat that feeling as a call to repentance. Practice doing one good deed this week that no one will ever know about except for God. Let Him be the audience of your heart, and find the deep, quiet reward that comes from knowing you have pleased your Father in heaven.
Prompt: When you serve or give, do you secretly crave the recognition of others?
Action Step: The Practice of discipleship includes doing good deeds solely for the audience of One.
Next Step: Do something kind for someone today without letting them or anyone else know you did it.