WEDNESDAY'S WORD - HIDDENNESS - Sadell Bradley 3/17/2021

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD HIDDENNESS 3/17/2021 "The singleness of eye and heart corresponds to that 'hiddenness' which knows nothing but the call and word of Christ, and which consists in perfect fellowship with Him. " - Deitrich Bonhoeffer

HIDDENNESS means something is put or kept out of sight; concealed from the view or notice of others; prevented from being seen, or kept secret or unknown. You don't see the descriptive word hiddenness often, but theologian Deitrich Bonhoeffer, in his classic book, "The Cost of Discipleship" uses this word to characterize the life and preferred disposition of a Christian. He discusses the seemingly paradoxical reality that though our lives as disciples and our good works shine as a light in the culture; we should also have an inconspicuous quality - not desirous of attracting attention or praise to ourselves. How we crave attention! but Bonhoeffer instructs us that, "the Christian life is of its very nature extraordinary, it is at the same time ordinary, natural, and hidden. He uses Jesus' Sermon on the Mount to illustrate this virtue of hiddenness in an over-exposed culture.

MOTIVES MATTER. In Matthew 6:1-4, Jesus warns His disciples against the motive to be seen and applauded as they do good works, pray, and fast.“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. 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. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you." This hiddenness, as we partner in our Father's business, is a trait that goes counter the world's system. Nowadays, social media is where we take pride in announcing all that we do, think, accomplish, pray for, and give. Have we come to believe that if all of the aspects of our lives are not on social media, they do not really exist? Jesus admonished His followers, when you pray and fast, do not do it for the attention of men, but seek God privately; and your Heavenly Father, who knows what you need before you ask, and sees what you do in secret, will reward you openly. (6-8, 16-18)

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