F O O T H O L D

READING

34 RIGHT ACTIONS, WRONG MOTIVES

 

PRAY Help me, Father, to be honest with myself and you, as I read your

word.

 

READ Matthew 618.

 

THINK What things do we learn from this passage about keeping right with

God?

 

FOCUS All religions expect the worshippers to carry out certain duties.

Praying, going to services, repeating a creed, giving money ...

Jesus talks about three religious duties that were important to

the Jews. These were giving money to the poor (24), praying (5

15), and going without food (1618). He examines people's motives

for doing these things.

TO IMPRESS OTHERS. Jesus knew people who made such a fuss about

giving money to the poor that they might as well have hired a

brass band for the occasion (2). Others liked nothing better than

to 'get alone with God', surrounded by an admiring crowd (5)!

Still others went around looking miserable to let people know that

they were fasting (16). Such people got what they were after  the

admiration of others. God  who knows our secret motives  is not

impressed. Showingoff is not for Christians.

FOR OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. Our personal prayer life and the way in

which we give money (or time) should be a secret between ourselves

and God (3,4,6). Using religion to boost our reputation is a

certain way to damage our relationship with God and miss out on

what he might do for us.

THE LORD'S PRAYER (913). Jesus gives us a pattern.

1. Our prayer should begin with worship of God (9).

2. We should pray for God's interests, not just for what we want

(10).

3. We are to pray for our own needs  physical and spiritual (11

13).

 

PRAY Lord Jesus Christ, you taught your disciples to pray. Help me to

learn to pray in a right way.

 


Index - Foot Hold in the Bible

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