But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
We see here another command of Jesus to practice a spiritual discipline in secret. Dallas Willard in The Spirit of the Disciplines suggests that doing acts of service for others in secrecy is a spiritual discipline. Fasting qualifies as a spiritual discipline, so doing so in secret… does that make it a double-discipline?
The benefit of acts done in secret is that it removes the benefit of the gratitude of people. To give a generous gift without signing it allows for this act to be done to the glory of God without leaving room for the opportunity for the praise of man.
Similarly, fasting in secret removes the opportunity to find motivation in the respect and renown of people.
In our culture of posting and sharing to social media, it’s easy to not pause long enough to ask, “what’s my motivation?”
When doing something for a spouse or a loved one, do we point it out that we did it? Do we do this to feel good or to receive gratitude?
Doing things in secret for the Lord helps to keep our soul out of the way. It doesn’t give opportunity for poor motivations to pollute and minimize the gift to the Lord. What good is that to us?
Doing acts including fasting in secret allows the Lord to reward us as it is purely given toward Him.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to hold the gratitude and approval of people at a lower level than the gratitude and approval of God. Perhaps God wants you to shift things that you have been doing to be seen to a secret place to be seen by Him alone. Maybe today God is asking you to fast from something. Don’t tell a soul. Do it unto Him.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a step today… just one is fine.
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*Leon, Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew. Pillar New Testament Commentary (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992), 150-151, and Keener, C. S., Matthew (Vol. 1, Mt 6:16-18) (InterVarsity Press, 1997).