[Matthew 6:1 _ “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
       Matthew 5:16 _ In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.]
 Psalm 119:105 _ your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
//But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law, he meditates day and night [Psalm 1:2]

Why did David say that the word of God is a lamp and light?
Why did God warn us not to do our ‘acts of righteousness’ in public?
What are acts of righteousness? What are some examples?
Acts of righteousness, I got today are those ethical or Christian things we do. Examples are reading the Bible, giving to the needy, helping someone out with something, etc
These are the things God warned us not to do in public; to the public eye or public notice.
We see that further in Matthew somewhere, God told us not to let our left hand see what our right-hand does[Matthew 6:3]. It is the same.

When you read the Bible, don’t do it to the public’s eye; that everybody will see and say you are good or righteous; you have already got your reward.

But when you pray, go into your room, shut the door and pray to your Father who sees in SECRET, and he will bless you in the open.

The only thing that you can do in the public eye is the demonstration of the light of God in you. The light of God is his Word.

It is like this; when you read the bible or pray, that is not much of a big deal or our worry. Yes, it is good, but that is not the focus or essence now. What the public need is your faith; your belief in what you have read.

The Bible says, “Fear not, for I am with you”; should you read that in public or let everyone see you reading the Bible, but do not apply what you have read, you deceive the masses: they keep seeing you with the Bible, but they can’t smell or see the Bible’s effect on you. That is a great deception. And God doesn’t want that.

For all you know, because you do your religious duties or ‘acts of righteousness’ in public, there may be someone watching you from afar and admiring your diligence to the reading of the Word. But should he, that person, see no sign or effect of the Bible coming from you, he will be deceived and discouraged to follow in your footsteps of even accepting Christ as his savior, because, you have crushed his hope of a better life.

Do we see the danger here?

It is dangerous to ‘feel’ all spiritual and begin to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ outside or in public, for you to feel good or for people to praise you, meanwhile, the Word of your Father in heaven is not dominating your life.

Actually, ‘acts of righteousness’ comes from one’s body/flesh; it is one’s decision: “I want to pray, I want to give, I want to read the Bible, and I want to do this and that.” But, your light shining is from your Spirit: you don’t force it to happen, it is not a duty you conform to. It is something you have filled your heart or spirit within SECRET, and it is shining in public with little effort from you.

That is why, the Lord said, “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.”

It didn’t say otherwise in any form. Your heart got to be filled. You know that our Lord described the Pharisees as white-washed tombs; they look good on the outside, but inside them (their heart) is full of filth [Matthew 23:27-28].

Some worship him with their lips (effort), but their hearts are far away from him [Matthew 15:8].

Our LORD is Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth [John 4:24].

Worshipping God in Spirit is not only with your mouth, but it also is not a public show; IT IS WITH YOUR HEART/SPIRIT.

Someone can do all these ‘acts of righteousness’ in public but still go to hell because our Lord does not KNOW him [Matthew 7:23]: (there is no relationship built).

Letting your light shine is Faith.

Meaning, the Word is in you, [the word is light (Psalm 119:105)], then you act on it; you act on something you do not see, but hope for [Hebrews 11:1].

It is not enough to be able to quote scriptures. No! If the scriptures cannot be seen in you, there is no light.

“For the lack of knowledge,” the Bible says, “my people perish”[Hosea 4:6]

It is good to have knowledge (the start), but knowledge doesn’t end there. It must be continued into Understanding and then Wisdom (application of the knowledge gotten).

If you are not able to apply your knowledge or if you are not able to apply knowledge, then it is the same as you not having it at all. [If you have it, then show it (wisdom); apply it].

Some people pride themselves in the number of scriptures they can quote off the head, the hours of prayer they can stand through, the number of days they have fasted dry. All these things are good, BUT THEY ALL HAVE TO BE DONE IN PRIVATE; not before the public eye.

These ‘acts of righteousness’ are like candles, matches, torch, electric socket, the ingredients of light. But if with these ingredients we still see no light, then it is of no use.

If you buy ingredients to prepare stew and we all see the ingredients and praise you, but we see no stew at the end, what happens?

We get disappointed in you. Some may be disgusted for ‘deceiving’ them.

So, you see?

And one more thing; should you do your ‘acts of righteousness’ in public, you have tied yourself down. Meaning, you cannot allow yourself to be seen doing any ‘act of unrighteousness’. In that case, you would have deceived the masses for real shamefully; evangelizing to people, and people accepting you may become difficult.

Be careful.

I know these desires come to you to do these kinds of stuff in public, or probably, you were doing them out of ignorance. No problem! The light has come now. Read this in secret, meditate upon it [Psalm 1:2], and LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE NOW.

Have you gotten it, sweetheart?

God bless you.

//Your word have I kept in my heart, that I may not sin against you, LORD. [Psalm 119:11]
Stay Blessed.