FEBRUARY 07 THE JESUS QUESTIONS JQ#02 “For if you love those who love you, what reward have you …and if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others?” (Matthew 5:46-47)

FEBRUARY 07   THE JESUS QUESTIONS   JQ#02  “For if you love those who love you, what reward have you …and if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others?” (Matthew 5:46-47)

LIVING FOR JESUS Daily Prayer

JESUS, Lord and Savior, Redeemer and Friend, may every breath I take be used for Your Glory, let every thought I have be only thoughts of your kingdom, and may all my deeds be done in Your Name and for the kingdom’s sake. I have no desire but “serving" the King of kings and Lord of lords! Forgive me when I fail You with some careless thought or deed that draws me back to the world, may they all be used to grow the kingdom — keeping nothing for self.   AMEN

THE JESUS QUESTIONS

JESUS used JQ#01 & JQ#02 to focus our efforts on others and He gave us a couple of warnings to avoid “hypocrisy”. Jesus commanded us to do “charitable deeds” and “to pray” (Matthew 6:1-8) and in regards to "how" we pray Jesus gave specific instructions that when we pray (not if — but when) that our prayers should be just as if we were talking to the Father and not just using “vain repetitions” because “…your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him…” (Matthew 6:7-8) Jesus then gives us the “Model Prayer”: 

“In this manner, therefore, pray: 

Our Father in heaven, 

Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come. 

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our transgressions

As we forgive those who transgress against us.

And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." (Matthew 6:9-13) 

Jesus then amplified the importance of our forgiving others as He immediately made it plain that God forgives us because of our personal attitude that we harbor in our hearts toward others: “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14-15) Again Jesus has told us plainly what God expects of us (Free Will CHOICE) and to make it clear Jesus gives us motivation as He lists the “rewards” and the “penalties” (CONSEQUENCES) of obeying (Actions that results from our Free Will CHOICE) the commands of “our Father in heaven.” After Jesus discussed “charitable deeds” and “praying” Jesus then instructs us in “fasting” and just like Jesus warned us about the first two steps to “perfection”, Jesus also warns about “fasting” that we should “not be like the “hypocrites” putting on a show to impress men “But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” (Matthew 6:16-18) It is interesting to note that the first three steps we are to take to being “perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect” is to take these steps outside the spotlight of men — for Jesus warns us that if we do anything to impress men then we will be seen as “hypocrites” in the Father’s eyes. Jesus says our motivation to taking steps to perfection should be to gain favor with “our Father who is in the secret place, and sees in secret” who will know that we took the steps for Him and Him alone and that we will TRUST GOD to “reward” us as HE DESIRES!!!