6 “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. ² When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. ³ But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. ⁴ Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Matthew 6:1-4

Dear God, I think I try to do this when I can, but I’m in the awkward position today of being honored at a community banquet tonight for some of the work I do in the community. I think there are plenty of ways I serve and give that others don’t see, but sometimes I am working alongside others and so the deed is seen publicly. And I’m honored by this award. I really am. I’m humbled. I got tears in my eyes when they told me about it. What were those tears about? What were the emotions I was feeling?

As I sit here and pray before you now and examine my own heart, I think that the community recognizes that I love it is important to me. I love being here. I love serving here. I love loving people here. And I hope it’s all a reflection of my love for and worship of you. I hope when they see me they see you because it’s getting closer to you that brings me more and more out of my comfort zone and caring about others.

The other thing that has sat with me over the last few weeks as I’ve thought about receiving this recognition is how much I don’t do. I have friends who visit prisons and jails. I don’t do that. I have friends who went over to Kerrville after the floods to recover flood victims. I didn’t do that. I have staff that help operate a monthly food truck that distributes free food to the community. I only help them once or twice a year. And I know I can’t do everything, but there are times when I wonder if I don’t still have some guardrails around myself that I’m not willing to hear your voice and hear your call.

Father, you and I both know I’m not anything special except that I’m special in your eyes. You love me as much as you love people who are dying every day in war zones around the world. I have worth because I’m yours and really for no other reason than that. I have worth in that my earthly life might be useful in your desire to reach others and show them support and love. That starts with my family but then goes out to my neighbors. Help me to love you well. Help me to love others well. And then help me to point it all to you. That you might increase as I decrease. For your glory and so that others might know you.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen