Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Matthew 6

Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. v4

This verse is repeated several times in this book and Jesus is asking for us to be humble - and our humility should be reflected in our relationship with Jesus.  It is all about Jesus NOT us.  Whatever we do is FOR Jesus.  We should not be focusing on ourselves in our relationship with Jesus.  Submit to Him, please Him, seek forgiveness from Him.  We can certainly ask for things in prayer but we must be mindful that our prayer requests are subject to what God wants for us.  

God may say no, or not now, or yes...we know what God wants because of confirming circumstances among other indications that reveal God's will.

My Prayer: Lord, You are truly a great God...there is none like You.  You created the heavens and the earth and You created and sustain me...You bless me beyond what I deserve.  I am weak and I fail to be the light on a hill that reveals Your glory.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me be the light to the world that You intend for me.

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 5

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. v48

In the context of this sermon - the sermon on the mount - Jesus wants his children to love everyone (good or evil).  

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[i] and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? v43-47

The analogy is very clear - Jesus does not say that some people of worthy of His love and some people are not.  Everyone is deserving is His love.  Who are WE to say that some people are not worthy of His love.  When we don't love others as Jesus did we are either explicitly or implicitly saying that WE know who is deserving of love and we decide that some people are not deserving...this is not only not right it is sinful.  We are not to judge NOR are we to withhold love.

On the point of withholding love, we need to strive to love and BE as Jesus is.  This is I believe the point in v48 where we are pushed to grow in Christ.  This same point is made in Hebrews as posted here.

My Prayer: Lord, You love me before I loved You and You picked me before I picked You.  Despite how I refused to love You and then I did...only barely.  Even now my love falls short of what You command.  Thank You that You love me anyway.  What a great God.  You are full of compassion and love.  Please forgive me for withholding love...especially from those closest to me.  Help me love and BE more like You Jesus.

Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Matthew 5

Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. v42

God calls on us to be generous as I have posted here and here. Generosity of course is the antithesis to selfishness.  I am too often selfish - with my time, treasure, talents, etc.  

As I have posted, I should give freely and joyfully to please God...who does not want to please God?

My Prayer: Lord, You are truly amazing in how You give and bless.  You created the heavens and earth and everything in between - and placed us on earth so that we could enjoy the fruits of Your labor.  You also heal, provide, protect, provide rest, and are full of gentleness, mercy, compassion, etc.  I can go on and on and on...and still not praise You sufficiently.  You don't even need me yet You love me and You died for me.  I am not worthy of Your love and blessings.  Thank You Jesus even though I sin.  I am selfish.  Please forgive me.  Help me be more like You - help me give freely and joyfully to all who need.

But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Matthew 5

But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. v28

I am guilty of such sin. Yet I can recognize my urges as selfish and I seek to be more aware of the control that these selfish urges have on me.  I doubt that I will ever rid myself of these selfish urges but I can be more aware that they are selfish and also seek to separate myself from any influence that might cause these urges to more active.

My Prayer: Lord, You are a great God, capable of anything and creator of everything.  You can help me with anything - big or small.  I do want to be more pure and holy and more like Jesus Christ.  Yet I am weak.  I thank You that You love me anyway but I pray for Your forgiveness.  I also pray that You can grow in my heart such that whatever else is in my heart has less influence.  Help me Jesus.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. v16

As Jesus begins His Sermon on the Mount, I can hear him speak directly to me:

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ 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. v14-15

For me the challenge becomes:

1. Do I have my lamp lit - am I publicly glorifying God by who I am and what I do to love and serve others in the name of Jesus Christ?
2. Am I going into the world to allow others to see the light of my lamp - am I stepping out or am I hiding under a bowl?

These are challenging questions indeed, and I seek God's help.


 
 My Prayer: Lord, You are a great God - Your light is so bright that it can never be extinguished and it will be seen everywhere.  You are "the way, the truth, and the life", and I desperately seek Your help Jesus.  I am weak and I fail to light my lamp and I fail to show my light publicly when it is lit.  I know You love me anyway so thank You but please forgive me for my lack of a bold and daring faith.  Help me Jesus.  Please grow in my heart and in my life Jesus.

When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee.

Matthew 4

When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. v12

Upon reading Matthew 4 and the above verse, it struck me as odd that Jesus would withdraw.  Jesus does not need to withdraw from anything or anyone!  He is God!  But after thinking about this, it dawned on me that the timing was not right for Jesus to find himself in trouble yet...His ministry needed to gain steam before the appointed time for Him to go to the cross.  Simply, there was more for Him to do.  There was a plan of course.

For me this causes me to be more aware of how God may be using my current circumstances as part of His plan and how He may be directing me.

In terms of my current circumstances, I think of the verse here.

In terms of how God may be directing me and how I can know God's will:
- read God's Word
- pray
- do I have confirming circumstances
- do I have confirming witnesses or wise counsel of brothers and sisters in Christ
- do I have peace of mind

My Prayer: Lord, You are truly a great God - the one true God!  There are none like You.  You create, You love, You bless, etc.  What an amazing God You are!  That You love me and died for me is incredible!  I am not worthy of such blessing and love.  I seek other Gods (pursuits, etc.) and this is SINFUL.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me!!  Help me Jesus.  Please grow in my heart and transform my heart and my life to be more like You.

‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’

Matthew 4

‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ v10

There is evil in the world and I pray constantly to be protected from earthly and worldly concerns.  Moving to Raleigh helped a great deal - less expensive place to live, etc.  

Jesus protected himself by removing Satan from his presence:

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! v10

To protect myself from Satan, I can:
1. Remove evil influences that serve to distract me
2. Increase Jesus in my heart

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the only influence I want in my life.  I want no other God or influence in my life other than You - Jesus Christ.  You are pure, perfect, holy, and defined by the fruits of the Spirit, love, kindness, gentleness, etc.  I want to be more like You.  Yet I fall down.  I am selfish, and I am lazy among the sin I do.  I know You love me anyway so that thank You, but please forgive me Jesus.  Help me be more like You and help me love You with all of my heart, mind, soul and strength.