The Keys to Living

In Matthew 6 Jesus teaches us about the keys to living. Please read them and pray about them in your life. Which areas are weak in your life? Which are strong?

Matthew 6:16-18 (Fasting)
And when you fast, don't make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair  and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your father, who knows what you do in private. And your father who sees everything will reward you.

Matthew 6:19-24 (Money)
Don't store up treasures on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. Where ever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Your eye is the lamp that provides light to the body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with lights. But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is! No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can not serve both God and money!

Matthew 6:25-34 (Don't Worry)
That is why  tell you don't worry about everyday life - whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are? Can your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't worry work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? So don't worry about these things saying, "what will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear? These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly father already knows all your needs. Seek the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.

Matthew 7:1-6 (Judging Others)
Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standards by which you use in judging others is the standard by which you will be judged. And why worry about a speck in your friends eye, when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, "let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye," when you can't see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your eye, then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friends eye. Don't waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don't throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attach you.

Matthew 7:7-11 (Asking, Looking, Knocking)
Keep asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep seeking and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. You parents - if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly father give good gifts to those who ask him.

Matthew 7:12 )The Golden Rule)
Do unto others what you would have them do unto you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.

Matthew 7:13-14 (The Way to Heaven)
You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and it's gate is wide open for many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and few ever find it.

Matthew 7:15-20 (The Fruit People Produce in Their Lives)
Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is by the way act. Can you pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can not produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by it's fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.

Matthew 7:21-29 (Building Your Life on a Solid Foundation)
Not everyone who calls out to me, Lord! Lord! will enter the kingdom of heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my father in heaven will enter. On judgement day many will say to me, "Lord! Lord! we prophesied in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and preformed miracles in your name." But I will reply, "I never knew you. Get away from me you who break God's laws." Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and flood waters rise and the winds beat against that house it wont collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and flood waters come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.

Take great care my friends, and may our Lord Jesus Christ be the light in your heart!
Kelly Wayne,