Saturday 21 Aug 2021

August 21: Matthew 23:1-12
 
Key Verse: Matthew 23:6
they love the place of honour at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;
 
Devotion:
How many things you do are so other people will take notice of what you are doing? If we are very honest with this question – most of the things we do are for the response we get from others rather than what we get out of it! The more social media takes grip in our world, the more we are going to demand attention for ourselves rather than doing things for others.
 
Jesus tried to teach the disciple how they should be thinking of others at all times and to do things for others as much as possible – not because you want to be seen to be good, but because the things you end up doing are for the good of others! Jesus could see how people, even back then, were turning to attention seeking rather than doing good to others. People wanted to get noticed and not necessarily do the right things!
 
God was very select in what He did. Jesus went out of His way to help others. Yes, some of the things He did were to get noticed or to bring glory to God, but none of it was in a negative way like most social media things are nowadays. We even have professional people whose primary goal is to influence what others should do – not necessarily to do the right thing but to influence others to do things they are getting paid for.
 
When we hear God’s word, we should be aiming to follow it and to do what God is requesting of us. Sometimes we get told about God’s word by people who are not following their own advice – this is what was happening at this time and Jesus was warning the disciples of this. We should not be seeking fame and fortune at the expense of others!
 
Points to Ponder:
How often do you show off?
 
Will you try to listen to and obey God’s word before showing off?