Daily Devotion in Matthew 6

Daily Nugget:
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

Much of the world, especially in prosperous countries, is confused with what is important. People’s desires and priorities have made the “things” in their lives paramount. However, all one’s money, big houses, boats, social status, education, and possessions will not matter one bit in eternity that all will one day face.

As Matthew 6:19-21 makes clear, accumulations in this life will not last. The moths can destroy even the finest clothing hanging in the closest. Rust will one-day claim one’s car as it will eventually end upside down in a scrapyard. Shiny treasures that cost so much time and resources to gain may even be stolen. The “things” of this world are only temporary.

However, every person has one permanent thing — their soul. Their soul will either spend eternity with the Lord or in the Lake of Fire. Their eventual destination is determined by what they do while on this Earth.

The decision of knowing and trusting that Jesus’ death on the Cross is payment for all of one’s sins is the only way to gain an eternity with Jesus. That is the most important “possession” anyone can have — God’s promise of Heaven. 

Man-made religious rituals, good works, and anything man does will not earn him an eternity with Jesus. The only way to be with Him is to be saved.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9

A Christian can also have everlasting treasures (Matthew 6:20) by doing what the Lord allows him to do for His glory. A Christian living for God on Earth will one day be rewarded by the Lord.

Bringing some to church to hear the Gospel or telling others God’s way to Heaven is a wise thing (Proverb 11:30) and will be rewarded. Visiting the sick and helping those in need will also not be forgotten by the Lord. Each Christian is different, so what they do for the Lord will vary, but it must be what the Lord desires of that person. One will be rewarded for living and obeying the Lord.

I often relate preparedness to Heaven as one person’s going to Hawaii. I have never been to the island state, but I understand it has the perfect temperature and is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Imagine you were told you could spend an entire year there in a wonderful hotel with all the food you could eat for free.

When you got to the beautiful place, you found the hotel was gorgeous and the food was out of this world, but you did not prepare for where you were going or could do. You looked in your pockets, and found you only had five dollars. You would spend a long time in “paradise” with little to enjoy where you were. You discovered you would be a pauper in paradise.

Many have gotten saved, but I am concerned they did not prepare for where they would spend their eternity. By God’s grace, they will be there, but they will be “poor” in paradise because of a lack of readiness.

Too many children of God will receive no rewards from the Lord as they did little or nothing for the One that saved their souls from eternal torments. While you have a life to spend doing what the Lord commands you to do, make your efforts those you will appreciate during your eternity.

Today’s Thought: 
“What on Earth are you doing for Heaven’s sake?” — Author Unknown

Words to Understand:
Alms: gifts; offering to the Lord
Hallowed: honored; holy
Hypocrites: a person that says one thing but does another
Mammon: wealth; valuables
Raiment: clothes
Synagogues: a place of worship for the Jews
Trespasses: breaking of the Law; in this case, violation of God’s commandment

Today’s Reading:
Matthew 6
1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
5 ¶ And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
9 ¶ After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
16 ¶ Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
19 ¶ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
25 ¶ Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.