Matthew 6: 1-18
1 Take heed that you do not give your alms before men to be seen of them, or else you will have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when you give your alms, you will not make a trumpet to be blown before you, as the hypocrites do in the Synagogues and in the streets, to be praised of men. Verily I say to you, they have their reward.
3 But when you do give your alms, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4 That your alms may be in secret, and your Father that sees in secret, he will reward you openly.
5 And when you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites: for they love to stand and pray in the Synagogues, and in the corners of the streets, because they will be seen by men. Verily I say to you, they have their reward.
6 But when you pray, enter into your chamber: and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father which is in secret, and your Father which sees in secret, will reward you openly.
7 Also when ye pray, use no vain repetitions as the Heathen: for they think they will be heard for their much babbling.
8 You are not to bet like them: for your Father knows what you have need of, before you ask it of him.
9 You are to pray after this manner,
Our father which art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done even in earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
14 For if you do forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 But if ye do not forgive men their trespasses, no more will your father forgive you your trespasses.
16 Moreover, when ye fast, look not sour as the hypocrites: for they disfigure their faces, so that they might seem to men to fast. Verily I say to you that they have their reward.
17 But when you fastest, anoint your head, and wash your face,
18 That you seem not to men to fast, but to your Father which is in secret: and your Father which sees in secret, will reward you openly.
We are not to do things to be seen by man, for if we are doing things to be noticed and regarded as a great person for doing such a great deed, then we lose, but if we do things out of the sight of man our heavenly Father will bless us,.
It is a matter of who you are serving man, self or Father God.
He also gives us a prayer to pray (or an outline to use when we pray)
Our father in heaven, holly is Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done even in earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins, as we also forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen
Acknowledging who God is He is in heaven and He is Holly
Asking for His kingdom to come looking forward to the return of Jesus
Asking that Gods wishes will be accomplished on this earth and in our lives with a oneness of heart on our part to worship and serve Him
Asking that Father God will provide our nourishment for each day, He wants to take care of our every need if we would only ark.
The big one; if we are not willing to forgive those who would miss treat us, sin against us, whether it be lying about us, stealing from us, physically miss treating us, even to the point of death whether it be us or a loved one if we are not willing to forgive we will not be forgiven (not one sin is bigger than another sin, is sin, and through Christ Jesus we can be forgiven, i think it comes down to; after Christ was willing to give up so much to leave heaven and come to earth for a time and go through such pain and suffering so we can be forgiven of our sins, we should be willing to go through some pain from others and through our forgiveness towards them they may see the love of Christ through us.)
Asking to be delivered from evil, the Lord will not temp us and He can and will keep us from the evil one, and by giving our whole being back to God through His son Jesus evil or the evil one has no right of position of our souls they belong to Christ.
Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen
And remember if you are doing things to be seen by man you have lost rewards from your Father in heaven. The rewards from Father God are so much more valuable then the praises of man.
Man can praise you one moment and turn on you the next; your Father in heaven if you give yourself to His ways will bless you forever and will not turn his back to you.
Obedience is better than sacrifice!
Tomorrow: Where do you keep your treasures?