Music Matters
Show 19

Good day, this is Music Matters and I'm Robert Barnes. What's your love life like? Yes, that's what I said. What's your love life like?

We tend to think of our love life strictly in terms of our horizontal relationships, specifically, our cross-gender, romantic ones. But I'm talking about your love life with God.

The focus of Music Matters is to discuss the problems and joys of corporate worship. And I believe corporate worship is much more important than private worship in the Christian life — if you don't agree with me, perhaps you should ask yourself why.

But having said that, I believe private worship is still important. Matthew 6 gives us insight into private worship that is too often overlooked.

Matthew 6 is in the midst of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus gives three tips on etiquette for giving, praying, and fasting. Now, his original audience already knew about giving, fasting, and praying, so this was not a moralistic sermon on the importance of these things. Jesus' main point is found in this repeated idea: Secret Worship.

In your worship through giving, Jesus says this in verse 3 and 4:

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret.

In your worship through praying, Jesus says this:

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.

In your worship through fasting, Jesus says this:

But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

When we spend time with those we love, our most intimate moments are when we are alone with them. When is the last time you and God had intimate time together? Not quiet time, but secret time?

Stay up late. Spend some secret time with God, and make it a night to remember.

I'm Robert Barnes, and this has been Music Matters.