Left-Handed Motives

Daily Reading: John 7

Scripture Focus: No one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. (John 7.4)

Devotional Thought: Jesus' brothers didn't understand him. They didn't get his motives. They were frustrated by his seeming political obtuseness. On one occasion, urging him to go to a certain feast in Jerusalem, they said, "No one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly." In other words, "Don't waste all your good works by doing them in secret!" Sadly, that philosophy is not restricted to their day and time.

Jesus had a whole different way of looking at things; a refreshing way, an almost naive way. He said things like, "Don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that you will be rewarded by your Father in heaven." Good works don't need to be noticed by people. They are seen by God. If we seek to show our works off so that others will notice us, we have already received our reward.

Jesus likened the Kingdom of heaven to a seed. Nobody goes to a seed-growing exhibition. A seed doesn't need the spotlight or a cheering crowd. A seed grows secretly, doing its work in the dark, without fanfare, getting itself dirty, working in silence. But, the seed when it is full grown brings forth fruit - thirty, sixty, or even a hundred-fold.

Yesterday, we read of 'left-handed power.' Today, we discover 'left-handed motives.' Are we content to do the work of the Kingdom in Jesus' way? Left-handed and in secret?

Prayer: Jesus, I thank you that you came to do the Father's will - simply out of love. You did not demand attention and positive feedback. Even when the crowds deserted you, Lord, you finished the work the Father gave you to do. Help me, O Lord, to follow your example. Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 34.15-22

15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. 16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. 17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. 18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. 20 He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. 21 Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. 22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.