Scripture Union Daily Guide 8th January 2021 Devotional Message
TOPIC: God Sees and Knows All things
Opening prayer: Lord, I pray that you lead me into your truth as I meditate on your word in Jesus name.
Scripture: Matthew 6:1-15
Question(s) for Reflection
• Is there any prayer for me to remember?
Scripture Union Daily Guide 8th January 2021 Message:
Note the attitudes that Jesus condemned and why he condemned them. Note also the assumptions in vs.2 & 5. That we must give to the needy is not debatable (see Matthew 25:34-36). The issue is how we must give. The words used here are significant: announce with trumpet, hypocrites, to be honoured by men etc.
Any giving or acts of kindness that is done to win people’s praise loses value in God’s sight. Here Jesus is not against keeping good record of members’ contributions in a church setting. We must emphasise and encourage transparency and accountability to the people we serve as ministers.
For some of us, prayer is only about asking God for what we need. According to Jesus Christ, it is part of the outworking of our relationship with the Father.
(a) We start with worship, as we declare His “worth-ship.” We also desire to see the peace, righteousness and justice of His heavenly Kingdom here on earth.
(b) We acknowledge our need as any child to a loving father including
- Â Material: our daily bread as He blesses the work of our hands and
- Â Spiritual: forgiveness and deliverance from the forces of evil.
(c)We acknowledge our responsibility before Him: to forgive others even as we are forgiven.
(d) Finally, we extol His omnipotence, His power, and His glory, not just in the here and now but for ever and ever.
• Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
Practice/Word Application
• So what? Read vs.9-13 again, slowly.
Closing Prayer
• Lord, please teach us to pray aright. •
Offer a prayer of faith in line with Genesis 22:17
Bible Reading in One Year: Gen. 20-22; Rom. 8:1-21
Thank you for reading Today’s Scripture Union Daily Guide 8th January 2021 Message