Mathew 6 Devotions by Stephen Taylor

Matthew 6:3

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

Matthew 6:6- But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Matthew 6:17- But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face…

Jesus doesn’t say if, but when! Jesus is revealing that it’s not if we are going to do it, but how it is to be done. It’s a command, not an option, to give to the needy, pray to our God, and fast at different times in our life. How well are we doing in these areas? This section of the Sermon on the Mount is not only about the things we are commanded to do but the heart behind them.

Jesus repeatedly says to do these things and to do them in secret to our Father’s delight and glory. We must seek the praise of God, not the praise of man. Anyone can go out and give something to glorify themselves, but a disciple of Christ can give secretly for the glory of God! Anyone can show how “religious” they are by speaking a heartless word of prayer, but a disciple of Christ cries out from the depths of their hearts in their prayer closet daily, unbeknownst to those around them. Anyone can say they’re suffering through a fast for the Lord, but a disciple of Christ will suffer and sacrifice in silence before their God!

This doesn’t mean that we hide our light but that we shine it for His glory, not our own! So, if this is the standard we are to live by, and we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, then what is keeping us from walking this out in our lives? He is loving, He is merciful, He is patient, and He is willing to lead us in each and every way! Thank You, Lord!

Matthew 5:14-16- “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven.”

God bless! I love you all, but His love Illuminates the darkness! Glory, honor, and praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit!

 

Mathew 6:33

“Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Today, when I was working out, God reminded me of a sermon I heard while at MACI. The chaplain there said, “Too often I seek Gods presents over His presence!” God laid that on my heart today, as so often, I’m seeking what He can do for me, not Him! I’m seeking His hand, not His face! 

The crazy part is that when I seek and get into His presence, the presents come with it – LOL! Our God loves to bless us. I personally need to seek Him more than seeking what He can do for me! There is no better place to be than the presence of our Father, and being there is far better than ANYTHING this world has to offer!! Thank You, Jesus, for making a way to the Father for us!!!!

I’m going to try each day to get more into His presence, and I hope you all join me!!

I love you all, and God bless!!! And as always, Glory to God!

 

Matthew 6:33

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.”

 

During prayer today, a question came to me, and it went something like this: “What do you cherish most in your life? Family? Friends? Pets? Money? Power?”

 

The list is unending, but nothing should be above our relationship with the Lord! I am living proof of our Living God and His power, hope, and love! Everything I have in my life worth having is a gift from Him: My marriage, my family, my friends, my apartment, and the list goes on and on, but the truth is that my life would be nothing without Him. So, if we know this, then why is it hard to live it? One reason is we’re spending more time listening to the world and less time listening to Him.

 

The Bible tells us He is more than enough, but the world tells us it’s never enough. The Bible tells us to trust in the Lord, but the world tells us to trust no one. The Bible tells us to give freely, but the world tells us to hoard obsessively. Even on the best of days, this world and the things of it will let you down, but the God who created everything never will. He is kind, compassionate, and merciful to the ungrateful and undeserving. He forgives billions of sins and stamps out our condemnation. I know all these things because I was all these things until His love set me free! He is our hope, He is our peace, He is our God, and He is waiting for you just like He was waiting for me!

 

John 14:5-7 - Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, So, how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

 

God bless! I love you all, but He loves you so much more! Glory, Honor, and Praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit!

 

 

Matthew 6:34

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

It is impossible to completely rest in Christ today when we are consumed with the worries of tomorrow. Christ knows that if we are constantly looking ahead, we will miss the blessing right before us. Too often, we worry about things that never happen and miss the opportunities right before us. It comes down to faith and trust. Do we trust Him enough to let go of tomorrow and embrace all that He is today? Whether that road leads us through a mountain top or a valley?

We must remember that sometimes we are called to walk through the valleys of life, but we aren’t called to traverse them alone. We have a promise from our God to be with us, regardless of what may surround us! That is where our hope and strength come from, not that we will be spared of trouble in this life but that we will be spared from going through it alone.

It will require faith to do this; faith says, “I don’t know how but I know Who, and I believe He is Who He says He is regardless of my feelings.” Faith isn’t easy, but it is vitally important in the believer's life. Worry has consumed important hours of my life, hours I can never get back, and hours He never intended for me to lose. So, let’s take back our today by giving Him our tomorrow and trusting that He is the Great I AM!

Exodus 3:14- God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

John 8:58- “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”

God bless! I love you all, but His love will drive out worry if we surrender it to Him! Glory, honor, and praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit!