Matthew 7:9-10

(New Living NLT)

 

⁹ “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? ¹⁰ Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not!

The child in Jesus' example asked his father for bread and fish - good and necessary items. If the child had asked for a poisonous snake, would the wise father have granted his request? Sometimes God knows we are praying for "snakes" and does not give us what we ask for, even though we persist in our prayers. As we learn to know God better as a loving Father, we learn to ask for what is good for us, and then He grants it.

Joe

Matthew 7:7-8

New Living Translation (NLT)

Effective Prayer

⁷ “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

 

Jesus tells us to persist in pursuing God. People often give up after a few halfhearted efforts and conclude that God cannot be found. But knowing God takes faith, focus, and follow-through, and Jesus assures us that we will be rewarded. Don't give up in your efforts to seek God. Continue to ask Him for more knowledge, patience, wisdom, love and understanding. He will give them to you.

 

Joe

Matthew 7:1-2

New Living Translation (NLT)

Do Not Judge Others

7 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. ² For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.

 

Jesus tells us to examine our motives and conduct instead of judging others. The traits that bother us in others are often the habits we dislike in ourselves. Our untamed bad habits and behavior patterns are the very ones that we most want to change in others. Do you find it easy to magnify others' faults while excusing your own? If you are ready to criticize someone, check to see if you deserve the same criticism. Judge yourself first, and then lovingly forgive and help your neighbor.

 

Joe

Matthew 6:14-15

New Living Translation (NLT)
 

¹⁴ “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Jesus gives a startling warning about forgiveness: if we refuse to forgive others, God will also refuse to forgive us. Why? Because when we don't forgive others, we are denying our common ground as sinners in need of God's forgiveness. God's forgiveness of sin is not the direct result of our forgiving others, but it is based on our realizing what forgiveness means {see Ephesians 4:32 below}. It is easy to ask God for forgiveness, but difficult to grant it to others. Whenever we ask God to forgive us for sin, we should ask ourselves, "Have I forgiven the people who have wronged me?"

Ephesians 4:32

New Living Translation (NLT)
 

³² Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Joe

Matthew 6:5-6

The Message (MSG)

Pray with Simplicity

⁵"And when you come before God, don't turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat? ⁶"Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.

(Some people, especially the religious leaders, wanted to be seen as "holy," and public prayer was one way to get attention. Jesus saw through their self-righteous acts, however, and taught that the essence of prayer is not public style but private communication with God. There is a place for public prayer, but to pray only where others will notice you indicates that your real audience is not God.)

When I first became a Christian, I would attend a prayer group where a few families would get together with the intention of seeking God. There was this person who would attend the group that would pray an elaborate prayer. He would always pray first and would literally spend 1/2 hour in prayer...quoting scripture as he prayed. He seemed to pray everything that we discussed before the prayer time. As a new Christian, I was impressed with how he prayed, but I was also inimidated by his praying. I usually stayed silent because I knew my prayer {that I thought God put on my heart} was not good enough. As I read and study this scripture, I now realize that he was praying for recognition from men, not from God.

Joe

Matthew 6:3

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

³ But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.

 

When Jesus says not to let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, He is teaching that our motives for giving to God and to others must be pure. It is easy to give with mixed motives, to do something for someone if it will benefit us in return. But believers should avoid all scheming and give for the pleasure of giving and as a response to God's love.

 

Here's a question I would like for you to think about...

 

Why do you give?

 

Joe

Matthew 5:38-42

The Message (MSG)

Love Your Enemies

^38-42"Here's another old saying that deserves a second look: 'Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.' Is that going to get us anywhere? Here's what I propose: 'Don't hit back at all.' If someone strikes you, stand there and take it. If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.

When we are wronged, often our first reaction is to get even. Instead Jesus said we should do good to those who wrong us! Our desire should not be to keep score, but to love and forgive. This is not natural - it is supernatural. Only God can give us the strength to love as He does. Instead of planning vegeance, pray for those who hurt you.

Joe