S -
“God blesses those people who depend only on
him. They belong to the kingdom of heaven! … When you pray, don't talk on and
on as people do who don't know God. They think God likes to hear long prayers.
Don't be like them. Your Father knows what you need even before you ask. … You
cannot be the slave of two masters! You will like one more than the other or be
more loyal to one than the other. You cannot serve both God and money. … Don't
worry and ask yourselves, “Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything
to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?” Only people who don't know God are
always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows you need all of
these. But more than anything else, put God first and do what he wants. Then
the other things will be yours as well.” Matthew 5:3, 6:7-8, 24, 31-33
O -
Jesus instructs one way for us to think, pray and live while the world (secular
and religious) teaches a very different way. They can't both be right and they
are not compatible ways of living. Both lay claim to reality, to the way it is
on earth. Religion accepts the secular view and tries to sanitize and
spiritualize it. Jesus says this can't be done. All will end up trusting and
engaging one way and refusing the other.
A - Earth will encourage and insist on its own
way. Jesus says he is the way. His only call is the call to follow him … Follow
him in thinking, praying, living, loving, believing. I admit they are not not
the same yet both seek my loyalty. I will be loyal to Jesus about the things of
earth and the things of heaven.
P - Lord of heaven and earth,
Thank you living and instructing us about
earth, heaven and its interface in the here and now. Not surprisingly, it all
boils down to your person, not to mere principles and promises. I believe you
and accept your call to follow and not run after the things the Father knows I
need and even wants to provide. I'll depend, intentionally rely, on you every
day and for all things earthly and heavenly.
Thank you for letting me live and pray in
Jesus and in his name,
Steve
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