Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 20, 2022: SOAP #4735: Matthew 5-7

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 6:1 “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

OBSERVATION:  I believe it pleases God when we do an act of service or kindness in a place that no one will notice.  Oh, people may notice that something was done, but they will not notice who did it. 

It concerns me when I see pictures posted on the internet of people distributing food and clothing to the poor. 

It concerns me when people are offered a “gift” based on the size of their offering which is publicly announced.  People are being enticed to give based on what they can receive now instead of waiting for the Father’s reward. 

Have these people never read the above scriptures?  The honor and attention they receive from men is their “full” reward! 

APPLICATION:   I believe it is the Father’s joy to reward His children.  He loves to catch us doing things that please Him.  …doing things that only He can see.  It is my opinion that we offend Him when we settle for our “reward in full” from men rather than wait for what God has in store for us. 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, in the Scriptures, reveal to me personally how I can best honor my Heavenly Father.  Help me please Him with every part of my life…with everything I say and all I do.  Help me be more concerned about what He sees rather than what man sees.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon