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Mat 5:16 VS Mat 6:1 VS John 7:4

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Kat:

Hi Kweli,

What do you think God has more respect for;

A preacher calls the sick up on stage and pronounces them 'healed.'   And people everywhere praise him for the mighty work he is doing for the Lord, letting his light shine before men.

A common nurse in a hospital takes care of the sick all day with gentleness, she listens to their many complains with compassion and does what she can to easy their suffering.  Well it's her job she gets paid to do it, so she rarely hears a thanks for the tender care she gives her patients.

You see it's not a matter of getting praise from people for a job well done.  But it is doing what you know in your heart is helping other people.  And that might be something like having compassion on the cashier that short changed you or passing on that piece of pie your wife made that you love so much, because there was not enough to go around.  Our light shines whenever we put other people first.  People might not always recognize this act of selflessness, letting your light shine, but God does.

Mat 6:1 "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.
v. 2  Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
v. 3  But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
v. 4  that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

mercy, peace and love
Kat

Vangie:
Thank you guys for some great stuff here.  I hope Kweli's getting as much from this as I am! ;) :D

Love in Christ,
Vangie

musicman:
It's a very difficult thing to keep quiet about the good things one does.  I remind my-self of this whenever I go out of my way to help someone.  I've learned to just keep things between me and God, if I can.

WhoAmI:
This is a topic I feel strongly about. You have to remember that many in the churches want to see your actions or they count you out as doing nothing. They also will pat you on the back all the more if your in their group. They set the parameters and the way you do things. They also give out the approval and acceptance. Don't be fooled.


Mr 12:43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury;
Mr 12:44 "for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood."

Jeff

Dave in Tenn:
Hi Kweli.

Sometimes it helps to look at extreme examples and reduce from there what fits our usually lesser situations.

Look at the account of Stephen in Acts chapters 6 and 7.  His was no shrinking violet.  He was chosen publicly (Acts 5:5 ..."So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit..."),
ministered publicly, tried publicly, preached the Gospel publicly at his trial, and executed publicly.  

But look at his heart at the last, knowing that this was his heart all along.

Acts 7:59  As they continued to stone Stephen, he kept praying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" 60  Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, don't hold this sin against them!" When he had said this, he died.

He was in rightful relationship with the Lord by acknowledging Jesus as his Lord and master of his destiny.  And he was loving his enemies, being in right relationship with them as well.  

Maybe this doesn't help you decide what to do about going with your brother.  Assuming they aren't preaching a false gospel, maybe there's no harm in going.  What is the worst that can happen to you?  Maybe you see what spirit is in you and you're either humbled to repentance or able to Glorify God.  And maybe you help a few people.  

The only thing I can add is that the Apostles asked the 'congregation' to choose Stephen (and some others) so they (the Apostles) could devote themselves to the more important work of prayer and the ministry of the Word.  So maybe this isn't something to make a habit of, but needful for a time.  

You know, when you stop and think about it, it's really not OUR light that is shining anyway.

   

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