Divine Imperatives October 5 Devotional

MATTHEW 6:5 | ⁵ And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.

All our words and actions have both an inner and outer aspect. The inner aspect is our intention and motivation, the outer is what we actually do or say. These inner and outer dimensions are intrinsically connected. When evaluating a bad act, we consider it to be less culpable if it was not intentional, and more so if pre-meditated. A good deed is considered less worthy if done for an ignorable or selfish reason. This latter case is the one Jesus discusses in this section of the Sermon on the Mount. The good deed, giving alms or praying is done to impress others and burnish a reputation for generosity.

Are your inner and outer dimensions coordinated?

Gracious God,

Integrate my soul and life. Let Your values be evident in my words and deeds. Purify my motives.

Amen.