When we hear the words he or she had a secret life, we instantly think of some scandalous behavior long hidden under a thick layer of lies and pretense. But when Jesus talks about a secret life in Matthew 6 it's a life known to the Father but veiled from the public eye.
He speaks of prayer in the secret place (Matthew 6:4) where God both sees and hears our cries. In turn, He rewards us openly with the requests we present to Him. In this intimate space, God deals with our hearts rather than those He describes as hypocrites and superficial. These religious folks are all show with loud, colorful prayers, but altogether empty and vain.
In the secret place, God deals with our hidden longings and desires that sometimes are buried under religious catch words and phrases. He goes to the deepest intent of what we are really asking Him to perform. Scripture says, "Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." (verse 8, NIV).
In other words, in the secret place we are the most transparent and real before God - which is for our comfort and protection. Those who draw attention to themselves in public with empty prayers will soon be found out. Often behind all their "spiritual" talk, there is cherished sin.
Jesus speaks of fasting as a secret act rather than advertising it as a badge of self righteous suffering (verses 16-18). When you fast, it's an expression, for whatever personal reasons, between you and the Father. God promises to reward us openly for a life hidden in Him.
Why a secret life in Christ?
If for any reason, it's for Him to be shown and glorified in our lives. This runs contrary to what our flesh desires. We want to be heard and seen, much like a viral YouTube clip, but God does not work in that way. His dealings go deeper and hidden from plain sight until the moment He desires it to be revealed.
Beloved, cultivate the hidden life of prayer in Christ and in the end, you will be storing up treasures in heaven (verse 20).
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