Be Careful

Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

This verse comes right on the heels of the verse from yesterday, where we are told to be perfect.

So this implies that being perfect does NOT include going around letting others know that we’re being perfect.  That would be “practicing our righteousness” and righteousness is not something that can be practiced.  Again, that would mean that it’s something we can achieve if we just practice enough times to get it right.

This is another strong verse. Re-read the last part.  If we practice our righteousness in front of others to be seen by them, we have NO reward from our Father. Wow.

But instead of seeing this as a stern reprimand, I see it as another reminder that being like Him is not a result of ANYTHING we do.  It’s all a work He does.

And when His righteousness, his perfection, is something we allow HIM to work out in us, others do see it.  And the reward we have is bringing glory to Him, not glory for ourselves.

Be careful.