BE-Gratitudes: 30 Days of Positive Attitudes – Admired
November 22nd, 2021
Day Twenty-Two: Admired
Matthew 6:1-8, ‘“Examine your motives to make sure you’re not showing off when you do your good deeds, only to be admired by others; otherwise, you will lose the reward of your heavenly Father. So when you give to the poor, don’t announce it and make a show of it just to be seen by people, like the hypocrites in the streets and in the marketplace. They’ve already received their reward! But when you demonstrate generosity, do it with pure motives and without drawing attention to yourself.Give secretly and your Father, who sees all you do, will reward you openly. Whenever you pray, be sincere and not like the pretenders who love the attention they receive while praying before others in the meetings and on street corners. Believe me, they’ve already received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your innermost chamber and be alone with Father God praying to him in secret. And your Father, who sees all you do, will reward you openly.When you pray, there is no need to repeat empty phrases, praying like the Gentiles do, for they expect God to hear them because of their many words. There is no need to imitate them, since your Father already knows what you need before you ask him.”’
We all want to be known for something, don’t we? And hopefully something positive, fortunate, helpful. That reminds me of the times I have heard so-and-so committed some crime so he or she would be noticed or remembered, became famous dying for some cause. How tragic, as you think about the family behind the person that acquired notoriety in such a disheartening manner. But we often are told, ‘Negative attention is better than no attention.’
So I was reminded of that when I read this passage this morning while reading a separate devotion. It was on ‘Forgiveness’, but this Scripture spoke to me about admiration and how we will go to any length sometimes to achieve it. In fact, I was that person who could rattle off verses and make Jesus sound every bit of amazing that He is in order to be oohed with my Christian friends, but it was just as easy for me to leave Him behind when I didn’t want Him seen by my party friends, or as I slyly tried to convince myself, when I didn’t want Him to see some of the places I inhabited. How did He not spit me out of His mouth as I lukewarmly straddled several fenceposts and colored outside the lines?! It wasn’t enough to be admired as an astute businesswoman or caring boss, an available friend or doting gramma; I connived for those admirations, but I also aspired to be admired by not only those sitting in the back pew but also right up front.
What God desires is the realness in your walk, the marrow of your motives, the posture of your heart. See, the world looks at the exterior of your person, but God looks upon the interior of your soul. And mine. I am so very grateful that He has given me multiple chances to get things right so I eventually would get to the place where I knew I needed to work on the condition of my achievement-striving self. It doesn’t matter that I might walk tall and proud or speak eloquently or been proficiently efficient or painfully self-sufficient. What matters is the Who, meaning Jesus, I take into my relationships, the fragrance He spreads through me and the love I pray He leaves behind in me.
For what are you most admired? Is it long-lasting or will it be tarnished by life and circumstances? Having the favor of a Holy God is the highest calling there is but it is not regarded as such and therefore often overlooked. I pray you too can receive the enduring approval of Almighty God over the empty applause of people!
