For Christ Alone

Matthew 6 - Jesus is giving the sermon on the mount. He is explaining to an unknown number of followers the importance of the Heart. And is teaching US the right way, God's way, of living.
He hits on a very sensitive subject. The heart and your motive in your actions. 

GIVING. Doing good to Please GOD not ourselves and not man.
Jesus said to Love. And in that we are to help one another with all things. Giving to others in our abundance. Giving support when someone needs a shoulder to cry on. Giving time and energy to build His Kingdom. Jesus clearly says to not be a hypocrite. Don't do these things for the glory of men.. in front of men. Do it secretly. And IF we do.. we will get ZERO reward in heaven for it. We got our reward by making it about US. OUCH.

There is a fine line between doing for God and doing for worldly recognition. It is all about our Heart. What is our motive? What is making us GIVE to others? Are we doing it to be put up on a pedestal? Or are we putting Jesus in His rightful place on His Throne? Check your pride at the door. And check your motives.

PRAYER. Praying is one of the MOST important things as a Christian. We must spend time with the Lord to hear from the Lord. There is no other way. I can read a book about Him. But I can't have a relationship WITH Him if I don't speak to Him. Jesus repeats AGAIN. Don't be showy about your prayer life. Do it privately. Be direct. Don't use big words. Be real. How you would speak to your best friend sitting on the couch next to you. You would not stand in front of a crowd and have an intimate conversation with your spouse or best friend. So why would you do so with God.
He teaches us the model for praying. And it is now the most popular pray on the planet. But what exactly are you saying????

7 things:

1. We are connecting with God and saying who He is "Our Father in Heaven"
2. We are worshiping Him "Holy is Your name"
3. We are praying for HIS Kingdom and HIS will. And when we seek HIS kingdom He will provide our needs "Your Kingdom come"
4. We are dependent on GOD for everything. "Give us this day"
5. Getting our hearts right.  "Forgive us..."
6. Praying against the enemy "Lead us not"
7. A statement of WHO HE IS. FAITH. OUR FAITH STATEMENT "Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the power. Yours is the Glory.

Jesus gave us a great outline on what to do.  If you do not want to use these exact word but your own you can use the "A.C.T.S"   Adoration. Confession. Thanksgiving. Supplication.  Sometimes  just repeating the same words over and over feels in personal. My best advice. Just be yourself. And talk to your Father in Heaven.

FASTING. Fasting is right up there with prayer. This is for sure a dying act for God. Fasting for spiritual break through is an amazing way to connect with God. I may have to venture in a more in depth study on this at a later time. Jesus.  Says to ALSO not make a big fuss when you fast.
NO complaining to family how hungry you are because you are fasting. NO one should know you are doing it except GOD and a partner that is praying for you during your fast. If not. You might as well eat a steak because your break through WILL NOT COME.  Your reward is in those feeling sorry for you.. or admiring your strength through out the fast.  CHECK YOUR PRIDE AT THE DOOR.

Jesus gives us a lot of "Check yourself before you wreck" yourself instructions. And then He turns it up with:

 Treasures in Heaven.

We are in an instant gratification society. You want a phone that is the latest and greatest. You can have it. You want a big house.. you got it. NEW car. YUP. Fancy things. .SURE. These are earthly treasures.  Sorry. We have all this abundance and yet there is a homeless man on the corner. Children AND Elderly with little to eat. People dying of starvation and disease. We are RICH by other countries standards but POOR OF SPIRIT.  We have to decide to be either do as Jesus commanded. Or living in this world. Jesus said love. This world says.. have it your way.. you can have it all.

If you would like to discuss the "God Blessed me with a lot of money"  I challenge you. Did HE bless you so you can bless others? And what are you gonna do with it at the end. We can line our graves with it BUT Jesus will not be putting it in your room in heaven. 

Lastly.

DO NOT WORRY. If we seek God and HIS kingdom HE is faithful and will provide your every need. Heart check. Matthew 6 is all about your heart. Where is it. What is it dwelling on. What does it want. Is it pure and true? Or corrupt and greedy?  Search your heart and ask God what it looks like.
I tell people  "I love your Guts. ". And some may think I am speaking of their Moxy. But in truth. It is a their heart. What they look like on the inside. Their spirit. What do your guts look like? Are they clean and happy? Or are they full of bad motive?


I confess this is not the direction I was thinking today's devotional would go.   My challenge for myself is to really look at my motives when I do things. And check my pride at the door and act in such a way that there is NO doubt it is for HIS Glory. NOT MINE. Will you join me? 


My only motive. Click for worship song.