And what we do as a result
Dear God,
I am aware that you wish us to be so filled with Your words and gifted love, that it is natural for us, to not push ourselves forward and to do our kind/charitable deeds as an outworking of our hearts and not to purposefully attract notice and commendation. You teach us that what we give in offerings and donations, to Your church and the needy, should be kept as a secret between You and each person. Matthew 6: 1 “……..Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.” V2”………Assuredly, I say to you they have their reward,” received from achieving notoriety. Charitable deeds are to be kept secret, as if the right hand is unaware of the actions of left hand. V 4 “and Your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.” Jesus taught on earth, that when our heart is in tune with You in humility, we will not be persuaded to make long pretentious, hypocritical public prayers, but rather spend much time in our own room in secret prayer, with You our God. Public prayers which are needful will be short, heartfelt, relevant and unpretentious.
Jesus gave us the Lord’s Prayer; a beautiful example of a prayer in Matthew 6: 9-13, that covers needful requests, and lifts us up and away from ourselves. Jesus further reminded each that if we are hardhearted and unforgiving, we close God’s answer to our self. V 15 “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will Your Father forgive your trespasses.” This a serious statement, for we cannot enter heaven, with unconfessed sins. Let’s search our hearts and cleanse any hard heartedness with forgiveness of any wrong doer; so that we can also be forgiven of God.
Most of us have the problem with spending much time working and building up our possessions and wealth, to the detriment of our time spent in Bible study and meaningful prayer. Jesus spoke about choosing to build up treasure here on earth or for heaven. I pray that I be alerted to any heaven denying preoccupations and spiritual lack, and be guided the right way. Matthew 6: 20, 21 “But lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Amen