URC Daily Devotion 7 November 2025

 
St Matthew 6: 16 – 18
 
Jesus said: ‘And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
 
Reflection
 
There’s a temptation to post the minutiae of our lives online for ‘likes’ or ‘ticks’ or ‘engagement’. It’s no longer enough to ‘do’… we must be seen to be doing. This is particularly true for young people who, it can sometimes seem, live their lives on social media via their phones and tablets. Performative joy, performative sadness, performative fear… anything so long as it gets a response, a reaction and shows off a little – gets seen by someone. Anyone.

And those of us who still use Facebook (I know, SO last millennium!) are no better. We post our pictures and reels, we raise funds for things because it’s our birthday (prompted by FaceAche) not just because we are caring and compassionate but to show others how caring and compassionate we are.

And that elevates the people who like and click and reply with heart emojis to our posts to God-like status – because God sees everything that we do. And everything good we do, we should do for God. Nobody else.

So back to young people: recent research suggests that many young people are taking active steps to limit their time in the virtual world, to digitally detox – aware that their mental good health can be affected by engaging with the world online more than offline. After all, why be performative when you can be real?

Prayer

Real God
when I’m tempted to think it’s all about me
remind me that it’s all about You. Amen