Bible League: Living His Word "But when you pray, you should go into your room and close the door. Then pray to your Father. He is there in that private place. He can see what is done in private, and he will reward you."Our verse for today is not speaking against public prayer in general. Jesus himself did not limit His prayer to private prayer. He prayed with His disciples (John 17:11-19). He even burst into individual prayer in public on occasion (Luke 10:21). Rather, Jesus was against ostentatious public prayer (Matthew 6:5). He was against prayer that is a conspicuous show designed to impress others, rather than to communicate with God. Nevertheless, Jesus implies here that there are some prayers that should never be made in public. There are some prayers that are solely between a person and God. Jesus himself would often withdraw from the crowds and His disciples and pray by himself: "After Jesus said goodbye to the people, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. It was late, and he was there alone" (Matthew 14:23). There are some things that you can say to God in private that should not be said in public. There are some things that are nobody else's business. When we withdraw from the public to our private place of prayer we can be sure that God is there with us. He comes near to us when we come near to Him (James 4:8). Psalm 91:1-4 tells us that the private place of communion with God is a hiding place of safety and protection from the trials, troubles, and tribulations of life. In that place God will cover and protect us like a bird that spreads its wings over its young. Like David, we can say in that place, "You are my place of safety, my fortress. My God, I trust in you." There are benefits to be had for coming to the private place and communing with God. In harmony with our verse for today, Hebrews 11:6 says that God "rewards those who sincerely try to find him." God is the Lord of heaven and earth. When we acknowledge the Lord's status by turning to Him instead of turning to anything or anyone else, He is pleased with us and rewards us. Today, then, enter the private place of prayer and receive from God the rewards He has for you. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingPsalm 119:49-104 Psalm 119 -- Blessed are those whose ways are blameless NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 1 Corinthians 4 1 Corinthians 4 -- Apostles Are Servants of Christ NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.”Insight Jesus said he would be with them in person for only a short time, and they should take advantage of his presence while they had it. Like a light shining in a dark place, he would point out the way they should walk. If they walked in his light, they would become “children of the light,” revealing the truth and pointing people to God. Challenge As Christians, we are to be Christ's light bearers, letting his light shine through us. How brightly is your light shining? Can others see Christ in your actions? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Ephesians 3:8 The unsearchable riches of Christ.My Master has riches beyond the count of arithmetic, the measurement of reason, the dream of imagination, or the eloquence of words. They are unsearchable! You may look, and study, and weigh, but Jesus is a greater Saviour than you think him to be when your thoughts are at the greatest. My Lord is more ready to pardon than you to sin, more able to forgive than you to transgress. My Master is more willing to supply your wants than you are to confess them. Never tolerate low thoughts of my Lord Jesus. When you put the crown on his head, you will only crown him with silver when he deserves gold. My Master has riches of happiness to bestow upon you now. He can make you to lie down in green pastures, and lead you beside still waters. There is no music like the music of his pipe, when he is the Shepherd and you are the sheep, and you lie down at his feet. There is no love like his, neither earth nor heaven can match it. To know Christ and to be found in him--oh! this is life, this is joy, this is marrow and fatness, wine on the lees well refined. My Master does not treat his servants churlishly; he gives to them as a king giveth to a king; he gives them two heavens--a heaven below in serving him here, and a heaven above in delighting in him forever. His unsearchable riches will be best known in eternity. He will give you on the way to heaven all you need; your place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks, your bread shall be given you, and your waters shall be sure; but it is there, there, where you shall hear the song of them that triumph, the shout of them that feast, and shall have a face-to-face view of the glorious and beloved One. The unsearchable riches of Christ! This is the tune for the minstrels of earth, and the song for the harpers of heaven. Lord, teach us more and more of Jesus, and we will tell out the good news to others. Daily Light on the Daily Path 1 Kings 4:29 Now God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment and breadth of mind, like the sand that is on the seashore.Matthew 12:42 "The Queen of the South will rise up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. Isaiah 9:6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Romans 5:7,8 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. • But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Philippians 2:6-8 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, • but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. • Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Ephesians 3:19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. 1 Corinthians 1:24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Colossians 2:3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Ephesians 3:8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, 1 Corinthians 1:31 so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD." New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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