Tuesday Reading: Matthew 6:15-18
Key Verse: Matthew 6:16
16 And when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, of a sad face. For they disfigure their faces so that they may appear to men to fast. Truly I say to you, They have their reward.
Devotion:
One of the biggest things that I think people forget about is that God is Just. If God is just then we have no hope whatsoever of asking Him for anything that is unjust; but still we try. If we are not willing to try and be just then how should we expect God to answer us or to entertain any conversation that we should like to have with Him? But it is not all about making sure that you do not break God’s commandments or making sure that everything you do is for God. It is not all about making sure that you do not do anything unjust towards anyone else or even making sure that you are friendly toward everyone, even your enemies... It all has to start with being just with yourself!
Being honest with yourself is where things have got to start. Once you are honest with yourself then you can start to be honest with others. If you are not honest with yourself then the only person you are fooling is yourself because God knows what you are trying to do. A potentially more embarrassing thing though is that other people around you may well see exactly what you are doing as well. You see, by being a fool to yourself you are opening up your foolishness for everyone to see.
Our prayers need to be in line with our aims in life. I don’t say that so that you would be encouraged to pray for things that you desire in life but rather to try and remind us all that our outward appearance is going to fool nobody! If we are going to make a show and dance about our life so that everybody will know about what is going on in our lives then we do nothing toward being honest with God but rather extend our lies towards everyone around us instead. Be honest with yourself because that will allow you to be honest with others and with God – that way your prayers will be more effective!
Points to Ponder:
Are you honest?
Are you honest with God?
Key Verse: Matthew 6:16
16 And when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, of a sad face. For they disfigure their faces so that they may appear to men to fast. Truly I say to you, They have their reward.
Devotion:
One of the biggest things that I think people forget about is that God is Just. If God is just then we have no hope whatsoever of asking Him for anything that is unjust; but still we try. If we are not willing to try and be just then how should we expect God to answer us or to entertain any conversation that we should like to have with Him? But it is not all about making sure that you do not break God’s commandments or making sure that everything you do is for God. It is not all about making sure that you do not do anything unjust towards anyone else or even making sure that you are friendly toward everyone, even your enemies... It all has to start with being just with yourself!
Being honest with yourself is where things have got to start. Once you are honest with yourself then you can start to be honest with others. If you are not honest with yourself then the only person you are fooling is yourself because God knows what you are trying to do. A potentially more embarrassing thing though is that other people around you may well see exactly what you are doing as well. You see, by being a fool to yourself you are opening up your foolishness for everyone to see.
Our prayers need to be in line with our aims in life. I don’t say that so that you would be encouraged to pray for things that you desire in life but rather to try and remind us all that our outward appearance is going to fool nobody! If we are going to make a show and dance about our life so that everybody will know about what is going on in our lives then we do nothing toward being honest with God but rather extend our lies towards everyone around us instead. Be honest with yourself because that will allow you to be honest with others and with God – that way your prayers will be more effective!
Points to Ponder:
Are you honest?
Are you honest with God?