Sunday, May 1, 2022

Vain Attempt To Please Ourselves….

Our relationship with God is first personal and private. What I mean by this is it should be a priority to meet daily with Him in His Word and in prayer, alone. The world only matters, in your communication with Him, not the other way around. Your concern should be what God thinks, before it should be about what man thinks. Your prayers may be about people in the world, but not about the world accepting or liking you. Here in Matthew chapter 6 (still in the sermon in the mount) we see Jesus addressing several issues: giving to the needy and prayer and fasting. When you do it with only God’s concern, it’s true and relationally right. When you do it with the mindset of getting praise from those around you, it’s religious. Jesus came to save us us from death and eternal condemnation. But In the process He shed light on religious practices. The truth is, Christianity is only about having the right relationship with God, done only through Jesus. Religion is man’s attempt to justify his sin without Christ, by doing works. True believers know the latter attempt is in vain. Without the right knowledge of truth, all religion is in vain, no matter how sincere you are. God frowns upon hypocrisy. But when we are sincere with the right knowledge, truth, God allows us to serve Him and make a difference in the lives of others. In order for sincerity to work, our hearts have to be aligned with God’s heart. Anything else is just a vain attempt to please yourself.

1 “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.2 When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do–blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get.3 But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Teaching about Prayer and Fasting 5 “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get.6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.7 “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.8 Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him!9 Pray like this: Our Father in heaven,may Your name be kept holy.10 May Your Kingdom come soon.May Your will be done on earth,as it is in heaven.11 Give us today the food we need,12 and forgive us our sins,as we have forgiven those who sin against us.13 And don’t let us yield to temptation,but rescue us from the evil one. 14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.16 “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get.17 But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face.18 Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Matthew 6:1-18

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