June 15 Things That Matter Part IV

Matthew 6:19-21

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

21 for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Today, we resume our walk through Matthew 6, where Jesus tells us about things that truly matter in our lives. We’ve seen that our motives, our prayer time, and forgiveness really matters. Today, Jesus tells us ”Treasure Matters”.

Jesus contrasts where our heart really is. If we seek the treasure of the present time our heart is fixed on things of the world. The shiney trinkets we attain in this life will never really satisfy us. Shortly, the value we thought those treasure held quickly passes and we set our heart on a new object of treasure. All we see here will fail to satisfy as well.

Only the spiritual things we can grasp in this life will fully satisfy. Spiritual things are eternal. Spiritual things are treasures that will endure. God instructs us to set our affections on things above.

Our Father will safely guard the treasure we lay up in heaven til we arrive there. Spiritual treasures, like acts of love and kindness completed in Jesus Name will satisfy. Treasures of a godly lifestyle which impacts others Will satisfy and remain. The souls we win to Jesus will be there above and satisfy for eternity.

Where our heart and treasure is truly matters.

Jeff

June 12 Things That Matter Part III

Matthew 6:12-15

12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

14For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

15but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

In today’s passage Jesus makes it clear the “Forgiveness Matters”. He gives the model for prayer in this passage and it is interesting to note the only verb He uses twice is “forgive”. After the model the only topic in the pattern he chooses to eloborate upon is forgiveness.

If we think about it, forgiveness is the need of every soul. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. He said none are righteous, no not one. Therefore, forgiveness is the greatest gift God gives us. Forgiveness enables us to receive all His other wonderful gifts.

Jesus said if we fail to offer the gift of forgiveness to others, it creates a problem between us and our Father. We are not like Him when we withhold our forgiveness. We should show mercy as He is merciful. We break our fellowship with God when we hold grudges.

We all desire to be in full fellowship with God. Look inside and ask God to show you if someone needs your forgiveness. Then go and give them that greatest of all gifts. Forgiveness matters!

June 11 Things That Matter Part II

Matthew 6:5-13

5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11Give us this day our daily bread.

12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

In this portion of Chapter 6 Jesus points out “Prayer Matters”! Our great and awesome Father knows every detail of our lives and He knows what we need before we even ask Him. Prayer is about our heart connection with His. Communing with our Father allows His will to become our will, not the other way around.

Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, should come first; and then Supplication for what we desire. ACTS is a good model for us to follow when we pray. We should always allow God time to talk to us before closing our personal prayers. Nobody likes one-sided communication where one person does all the talking. What He has to say is the most important part of prayer.