This week the focus is on Prayer. Again, Jesus warns His disciples not to make prayer a time of spiritual show. Instead, they should pray in secret to their Heavenly Father. In turn, He will not only approve our prayers but also blesses us before all.
Jesus warned His disciples not to practice their spirituality in order to be admired by people. It’s pride that leads us to demonstrate our charity, prayer, and fasting to people rather than God. God looks down on such religion. It fails to meet His approval. But, when we do things for His eyes only, He not only approves our actions but also blesses us before all.
This is such a sacred, meaningful time as we look back at the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for us. It also reminds us of the connection we have with other believers in the family of God. Communion is not just some old ritual. It is the foundation of our unity in Christ.
I believe that this is probably the most difficult beatitude that Jesus gave because it deals with the one subject that all of us struggle with – humility. As someone said, “Just when you think you are humble, you’ve lost it.” God gives His grace to the humble. First we will ask – what does it mean to be meek? Then we will ask – what does it mean to “inherit the earth?” Finally we will see how this blessing applies in the Christian life. When we begin to live by the spirit of humility, we truly live by grace. It is freeing. It brings glory to the name of Christ. It transforms the world around us. Imagine if everyone had the spirit of humility.
We should never lose sight of the fact that “We Stand By God’s Grace.”