365 Days in the Gospels and Spirit of Prophecy
Live for God's Glory, Not Self — March 8 [Description]
Bible discovery
Matthew 6:1-21 365D 67.1
1 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 365D 67.2
2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 365D 67.3
3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 365D 67.4
4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you [a] openly. 365D 67.5
5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the [b] hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 365D 67.6
6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you [c] openly. 365D 67.7
7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 365D 67.8
8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 365D 67.9
9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 365D 67.10
10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 365D 67.11
11 Give us this day our daily bread. 365D 67.12
12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 365D 67.13
13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. [d] For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. 365D 67.14
14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 365D 67.15
15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 365D 67.16
16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the [e] hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 365D 67.17
17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 365D 67.18
18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you [f] openly. 365D 67.19
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 365D 67.20
20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 365D 67.21
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 365D 67.22
Spirit of Prophecy Reading
The Desire of Ages pp.313-314: 365D 67.23
Worldly policy and the undeviating principles of righteousness do not blend into each other imperceptibly, like the colors of the rainbow. Between the two a broad, clear line is drawn by the eternal God. The likeness of Christ stands out as distinct from that of Satan as midday in contrast with midnight. And only those who live the life of Christ are His co-workers. If one sin is cherished in the soul, or one wrong practice retained in the life, the whole being is contaminated. The man becomes an instrument of unrighteousness. 365D 67.24
All who have chosen God's service are to rest in His care. Christ pointed to the birds flying in the heavens, to the flowers of the field, and bade His hearers consider these objects of God's creation. “Are not ye of much more value than they?” He said. Matthew 6:26, R. V. The measure of divine attention bestowed on any object is proportionate to its rank in the scale of being. The little brown sparrow is watched over by Providence. The flowers of the field, the grass that carpets the earth, share the notice and care of our heavenly Father. The great Master Artist has taken thought for the lilies, making them so beautiful that they outshine the glory of Solomon. How much more does He care for man, who is the image and glory of God. He longs to see His children reveal a character after His similitude. As the sunbeam imparts to the flowers their varied and delicate tints, so does God impart to the soul the beauty of His own character. 365D 67.25
All who choose Christ's kingdom of love and righteousness and peace, making its interest paramount to all other, are linked to the world above, and every blessing needed for this life is theirs. In the book of God's providence, the volume of life, we are each given a page. That page contains every particular of our history; even the hairs of the head are numbered. God's children are never absent from His mind. 365D 67.26
“Be not therefore anxious for the morrow.” Matthew 6:34, R. V. We are to follow Christ day by day. God does not bestow help for tomorrow. He does not give His children all the directions for their life journey at once, lest they should become confused. He tells them just as much as they can remember and perform. The strength and wisdom imparted are for the present emergency. “If any of you lack wisdom,”—for today,—“let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James 1:5. 365D 67.27
“Judge not, that ye be not judged.” Do not think yourself better than other men, and set yourself up as their judge. Since you cannot discern motive, you are incapable of judging another. In criticizing him, you are passing sentence upon yourself; for you show that you are a participant with Satan, the accuser of the brethren. The Lord says, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.” This is our work. “If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.” 2 Corinthians 13:5; 1 Corinthians 11:31. 365D 67.28
The good tree will produce good fruit. If the fruit is unpalatable and worthless, the tree is evil. So the fruit borne in the life testifies as to the condition of the heart and the excellence of the character. Good works can never purchase salvation, but they are an evidence of the faith that acts by love and purifies the soul. And though the eternal reward is not bestowed because of our merit, yet it will be in proportion to the work that has been done through the grace of Christ. 365D 67.29
Thus Christ set forth the principles of His kingdom, and showed them to be the great rule of life. To impress the lesson He adds an illustration. It is not enough, He says, for you to hear My words. By obedience you must make them the foundation of your character. Self is but shifting sand. If you build upon human theories and inventions, your house will fall. By the winds of temptation, the tempests of trial, it will be swept away. But these principles that I have given will endure. Receive Me; build on My words. 365D 67.30
“Everyone therefore which heareth these words of Mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, which built his house upon the rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon the rock.” Matthew 7:24, 25, R.V. 365D 67.31