Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 7-8, 2 Chronicles 21, Matthew 6
Matthew 6 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible, most certainly for me because it contains practical application and guidance directly from Jesus.
Do Good to Please God
Do not do good for others to get the credit. Do good things when no one else is watching, because it pleases our Father in Heaven, not for the approval of men.
The Model Prayer
Jesus tells us not be like the hypocrites and pray publicly to get credit or seek attention through our prayer. Do not pray “recitations” or in a manner open for attention. Jesus’ counsel outlines the Lord’s prayer on Matthew 6 and Luke 11.
Lay up Treasures in Heaven
Do not seek material things. These “treasures on earth, where the moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.” Our hearts should be pursuing the Gospel of Jesus and not seeking satisfaction and fulfillment from things on earth.
The Lamp of the Body
Our eyes are the “lamp of the body.” If we are watching, pursuing, or doing bad things, it is led by our eyes, and our whole body will follow. Protect what we see so we do not pollute our whole body.
You Cannot Serve God and Riches
We cannot serve God and material things. Seeking material wealth and riches can cloud our need and focus on Christ and create a sense of entitlement and pride. Pride is the worst of all emotions as we ultimately convince ourselves that our ways are superior to the Lord’s.
Do Not Worry
Christ tells us not worry about what we will eat, drink or wear for clothing. Christ tells us to seek the kingdom of God first and we will receive the blessings for the things we need to survive.
I something hear people speak of how they struggle to find application in today’s world from the Bible. “That book was written over 2000 years ago, talks about nothing that is like I deal with, how can the Bible teach me anything about today?” Nothing under the sun changes. The stories and examples of sin, deceit, theft, adultery, murder, and the list go on, are chronicled in the Bible. Human sin nature and the devil’s ability to derail our lives existed in Biblical times as it does today.
Jesus’ ministry was about how he became a human, in flesh, to experience the same temptations and emotions that we do daily. Jesus’ teachings provide a roadmap to peace, happiness, and contentment. Yet, there is no guarantee that we will get there, a life living with Christ is the most assured way that the strife we encounter will be met with strength, perseverance, and resolve.
Let us draw strength through the teachings of Jesus and live our lives to please an audience of One, Jesus.
