34 RIGHT ACTIONS F O O T ================================

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READING

34 RIGHT ACTIONS, WRONG MOTIVES

PRAY Help me, Father, to be honest with myself and you, as I read your word. —————————————————————- READ Matthew 61-8. —————————————————————- 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 (2-4), praying (5- 15), and going without food (16-18). 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. Showing-off 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 (9-13). 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. ==========