SATURDAY - 14TH JANUARY, 2023
MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola & Oreoluwa ADEJUMO
THEY HAVE THEIR REWARD!
Matthew 6:5-6, KJV
"5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."
May this voice not speak to you. Jesus says, "they have their reward." One might take it for a good reward but that reward isn't what any God seeker should have.
Have you come to seek God or you have come for a demonstration? It is the work of the flesh urging you on to make a show, scene or scenario with your prayer life so that men might notice you. Some people in Jesus' days even took it further. They prayed in strategic places of concourse as to be noticed of men to pray. I mean, they prayed for recognition of men. At that point, Jesus vomits to them an immediate response, "they have their reward." What they're looking for is what they have found but this has hindered them from ever being a partaker in the blessing of any who prays and prays through.
This reward Jesus talks about isn't what they'll have but what they immediately have as soon as they have become hypocritical. It's like a programming that gives result as soon as it's operated. They are immediately judged for being hypocrites in prayer. You remember I Timothy 5:24 says, "some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after." These men's are open before hand. They're immediately judged. Those whose sins shall manifest immediately are those who have come with an intention of earning men's recognition. Your judgement is that, "you have your reward already." It is not what you'll hear later or tomorrow. It's a voice rebuking you immediately and seeking your amelioration.
If this is your judgement, God is trying to wean you from any further expectation of answered prayers. He's preparing your mind not to think of impressing men at His expense yet with an expectation of blessing from Him. No! You have your reward already. You're not different from that man that was told not to expect anything in prayer if he doubts.
James 1:6-7, KJV
"6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord."
Why? Because he has faulted the process by doubting. You, you have faulted the process by being hypocritical in prayer. So, don't still be caught in any deception of yourself that God is merciful. On this, you're judged already. What ought to be made to God primarily is been made to men! If you're praying to be seen and acknowledged of men, judge if you are praying to God. We could even take it further by calling you an idolater. You're very much or close to that camouflage of deferring what God should attentively acknowledge to what men should see and praise you for.
Irrespective of the number, people, status of people who found themselves stumbling against this principle, the judging voice speaking to them this morning is that they've been judged already and so, "they have their reward." That reward as it's been elaborated to me is immature and untimely. No farmer plants and expects germination so soon and fruits instatenously but these breakers and violators of process tend to have their own that immediately. A mark that God doesn't favour such act at all. You should search yourself if your things have been to impress men and be seen of them instead of God. If it is, you'll on many occasions collide with the will of God and can never become a yielded vessel in His hands. The reason is because He hasn't become your Lord and doesn't have you totally for Himself. Have you been having your reward or you'll await your reward. The Bible says, "God is a rewarder of they that diligently seeks Him (Heb.11:6). This verse means God will reward you but never untimely, inappropriately and immaturely. I pray that the voice of God's judgement and disfavour won't speak into your life.
PRAYER: Lord, kill in me what's breathing and desiring the inordinate acknowledgement of men and endorsement.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Genesis 23:1-24:51; Matthew 8:1-17; Psalm 9:13-20; Proverbs 3:1-6
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