ODB: Let Honor Meet Honor
May 30, 2011
The more we serve Christ, the less we will serve self.
READ: Matthew 6:1-6
Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. —Matthew 6:1
I’ve always been impressed by the solemn, magnificent simplicity of the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. The carefully choreographed event is a moving tribute to soldiers whose names—and sacrifice—are “known but to God.” Equally moving are the private moments of steady pacing when the crowds are gone: back and forth, hour after hour, day by day, in even the worst weather.
In September 2003, Hurricane Isabel was bearing down on Washington, DC, and the guards were told they could seek shelter during the worst of the storm. Surprising almost no one, the guards refused! They unselfishly stood their post to honor their fallen comrades even in the face of a hurricane.
Underlying Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:1-6, I believe, is His desire for us to live with an unrelenting, selfless devotion to Him. The Bible calls us to good deeds and holy living, but these are to be acts of worship and obedience (vv.4-6), not orchestrated acts for self-glorification (v.2). The apostle Paul endorses this whole-life faithfulness when he pleads with us to make our bodies “a living sacrifice” (Rom. 12:1).
May our private and public moments speak of our devotion and wholehearted commitment to You, Lord.
— Randy Kilgore
Source: Our Daily Bread
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Not sure if it is too foolhardy to pay tribute to the dead ‘in the face of a hurricane’ not normal rain nor heavy down pour. These soliders have families too. It is worth it to risk their lives for a course like this. If it is for a battle to protect their country I can understand and support. But for a ceremony to commemorate the country heroes at such a high risk it would be better to think twice.
Definitely, it is an honor to suffer for the cause of Christ and for the sake of the Gospel that saved us.
our devotion to His will make us His children indeed. Question: if our church doesn’t have enough space and we couldn’t but pray outside ,is it acceptable before God?
Hmm if this is a question based on being holy to be observed by men, I would say that this question can only be answered by yourself.
The main issue over here is whether your heart is right before God; whether you pray outside for men to see, or you pray outside to authentically seek God. Of course in your circumstance, if you definitely have no choice but to pray outside, then you have to guard your heart, and to focus on God, making sure that the motivation behind you praying outside is to glorify God and not for men to praise you for your holiness etc.
One example would be praying before meals. If you are having a meal with your friends, you have to pray and give thanks to God in front of them. So what God sees is this, are you praying with a heart of gratitude, or are you praying to show men that you are holy?
This is just my humble opinion, hope this helps you!