February 21

Read: Matthew 6:1–6, 16–18

Devotion:

Lent has a way of surfacing a simple but uncomfortable question: Why am I doing this?

In Matthew 6, Jesus speaks directly into the heart of spiritual practice. He addresses giving, praying, and fasting. All good things. All commanded things. But His warning is striking. “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. ” The issue is not the action. It’s the audience.

Jesus paints a picture of people who give loudly, pray publicly for applause, and fast dramatically so others will notice. And He says they have already received their reward. In other words, if the goal was attention, they got it. But if the goal was intimacy with God, they missed it.

This season, lent invites us back to the “secret place. ” Three separate times Jesus says, “Your Father who sees what is done in secret…”. What does he repeat himself? For the same reason anyone repeats themselves. Because it’s important! Our Father sees. He sees the quiet prayer whispered in the car. He sees the hidden act of generosity. He sees the fast no one else knows about. He sees the motives beneath the action.

True devotion is not about performance. It’s about presence.

It’s entirely possible to do spiritual things and still be spiritually distant. We can post about our fast. We can talk about what we’ve given up. We can subtly signal our sacrifice. And yet, inside, we may be craving approval more than communion.

Lent is not about proving our devotion. It’s about deepening it.

Jesus is not condemning public faith. After all, He also says in Matthew 5 to let your light shine before others. The difference is motive. Are we shining so others will glorify our Father in heaven, or so they will admire us?

During this season, maybe the most powerful thing you can do is something no one ever knows about. A private surrender. A hidden generosity. A quiet confession. A prayer that never gets shared.

The Father sees.

And when He is your audience, that’s enough.

Reflect:

1. When you pray, give, or fast, what do you most hope will happen? Approval from others, or closeness with God?

2. What is one act of devotion you could practice this week in secret, simply for the Father’s eyes?

Pray:

Father, You see what no one else sees. You see my motives, my desires, and the places where I seek attention more than intimacy. Purify my heart. Teach me to seek You, not applause. Draw me into the secret place with You during this season of Lent. May my devotion be real, honest, and centered on You alone. Amen.