Jesus thinks about important acts of righteousness? Why did He say these activities should be done secretly?

Matthew 6:1-18 gives informative teaching for good habits of Kingdom life. Jesus talks about giving, praying, and fasting. He said when you give to the poor, you should not blow a trumpet and call attention to the poor, so you can make a show of your giving.

Rather, Jesus said, if your charitable deeds are done in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. We are told not to be a hypocrite or play actor when it comes to giving.

Jewish tradition said in the temple there was a "chamber of secrets" into which the devout people used to put their gifts in secret, so the poor could also receive support in secret. God certainly looks at the motive for our giving.

Have you responded to the greatest invitation the Lord Jesus ever gave? He simply said in Matthew 11:28, "Come to Me...and I will give you rest."

He said if you are tired of all the rituals, hype, works, etc., then I invite you to come into My Presence. If you will come to Me, you can bring all of your troubles, problems, and sin.

When we decide to take His yoke upon our lives, then He carries our burdens and cares. He promises to give us His rest and peace. As we live in His rest, we can daily experience peace for our soul (mind, will, and emotions).

As we live close to the Prince of Peace, He gives ease, refreshment, recreation, and a blessed quietness for our heart (Matthew 11:28-30). Have you responded to the invitation? He is waiting.

Sample Prayer:

God, I believe Jesus Christ is your Son. He died on a cross for my sins and has been raised from the dead. Jesus, come and live inside of my heart. I believe I am now being born again and made new, as I confess Jesus Christ is the Lord and Savior of my life.

Are you experiencing the happy anticipation of hope? "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13). 

This verse indicates joy and peace can be a great part of your believing faith. When you fully trust the Lord about certain matters, you have great joy and peace released upon you. God, the source of hope, sees your faith, then the Holy Spirit causes you to abound in hope.

The word abound in the Greek, means to:

* super-abound  

* be in excess   

* to exceed beyond measure  

* superabundance

When you have a superabundance of hope, then you will be able to anticipate with pleasure the blessings of the Lord. In the Greek text, hope is referred to as "the happy anticipation of good."

God is "the God of Hope." He is the Author of Hope. Confident hope is brought to our hearts by the Holy Spirit and our expectation goes to the Father, as we are reminded of His love. "Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord" (Psalm 31:24).