Dear Family and Friends,

We looked at a phrase last week that none of us ever want to hear Jesus saying – to us or anyone else. 

“I never knew you.”  Matthew 7:23 NIV

Many of us can truthfully say that we know Jesus. But what bothers many of us is this:

We’re not confident that Jesus knows us.

That said, let’s spend our time looking at steps we can take towards building our confidence.

If you recall, Jesus said to avoid His wrath we should:

Do the will of the Father (believe in and follow Jesus), and hear Jesus’ words and put them into practice. (Matthew 7:21,24)

And do so without being a self-worshiping hypocrite.

Jesus actually gave us hints of what to do in the preceding chapter.

In Matthew 6:1-4, Jesus spoke about giving to the needy. In verses 6:5-15, He spoke about prayer. And in verses 6:16-18, Jesus taught about fasting.

These three spiritual disciplines help us to become more generous, compassionate, humble, and dependent on God. And to grow closer to God. 

Jesus taught that instead of being like the hypocrites who give, pray and fast to be seen by others, to practice these disciplines in secret.

And then Jesus ended each discipline with the same phrase, “your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” 

There’s one other interesting point Jesus makes in all three disciplines.

He uses the word ‘when’ – when we give to the needy (v.3), when we pray (v.6), and when we fast (v.17).

He does not say – if. Perhaps these practices should be a part of our daily lives…

There is another teaching found in Matthew 6 that is crucial to building a mutual friendship with Jesus – The Lord’s Prayer.

It’s perhaps the most prayed prayer ever. Most of us have memorized the words. But unfortunately, there’s a tendency to rattle them off – without thinking about what we’re really praying.

That said, I’ve added a few words to help us reflect on this prayer. 

“Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.”  Matthew 6:9 NKJV

As we open our prayer, stop to take note of the intimate familial nature of our relationship with the God in Heaven. 

How privileged we are to call You our Father, all because of Jesus’ sacrifice for us.

We gratefully receive Your never-ending love and look toward being with You forever in paradise.

For these and many other reasons – we praise Your Holy Name – and declare that You are above all else in our lives.

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.” v.10

Lord, we surrender to You. Your will is our will. Your ways are our ways.

“Give us this day our daily bread.”  v.11

As we acknowledge Your role in our lives and surrender our will to You, we come before You with our wishes.

What do we wish for? That You give us what’s needed to sustain our spiritual and physical lives – Your Word and daily provisions.

“And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.”  v.12

Lord, help us to see that all sin stems from not having You first in our lives. Forgive 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.” v.13

We acknowledge that without You we are lost. We give You all the praise and glory!

Please join me in making this prayer a part of our daily lives. 

In love always,