Devotion of the Day

Publicizing Our Piety

Moreover, when ye fast, be not as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Matthew 6:16

There is no holiness in a hair shirt or godliness in gunny-sack garments. “To be all out for God you don’t have to look all in.“ The man who advertises his devotional life has not learned the most elementary rule of the devotional life-that it is a strictly private affair between him and his God.

Wearing cheap clothes if one can wear a good suit that will look better and last twice as long is false economy and not even good sense, let alone a mark of deeper holiness. God is not honored by penny-wise and pound-foolish living. We ought not to attract attention either by extravagance or negligence. A man may be trying to publicize his piety by faded garments, while he rails at the brother in fancy garb.

“Moses wist not that his face shone.“ The hypocrites were conscious of a sad face; Moses was unconscious of a shining face. Think it over.

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