Are you living a life of public performance or private intimacy? This weekend, Pastor Joaquin Pardo continued our (RE)FORMATION series with a message from Jesus’ Sermon On the Mount.
Matthew 6:5-6
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Jesus gives us a clear warning: Even in acts that seem holy and good if we’re not careful, they can be driven by selfish ambition rather than true devotion.
1) Don’t do it for the clicks.
Jesus warns against performance-based prayer—praying to be seen rather than to seek God. If our motivation is approval from others, that fleeting praise is the only reward we’ll receive. True prayer isn’t about appearances; it’s about intimacy with the Father, who sees and rewards what is done in secret.
2) Pray in secret.
Jesus calls us to pray in private, where our focus shifts from public approval to personal intimacy with God.
“The goal of prayer is the ear of God.” – Charles Spurgeon
When we pray in the secret place, we move beyond performance and into transformation, seeking not the applause of others, but the presence of our Father. Prayer isn’t just about receiving answers; it’s about receiving God Himself—the ultimate reward!
3) When you call, he shows up.
When you call on God, He shows up—not always by changing your circumstances, but by changing you. Jesus is inviting you to the secret place. Not to impress people. Not to perform. But to know Him and to be known by Him.
