Do You Really Trust God?

Matthew 6:16–7:6

Fasting to Be Seen Only By God

“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the 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. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 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 openly.

Lay Up Treasures In Heaven

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The Lamp of The Body

The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

You Cannot Serve God and Riches

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

Do Not Worry

Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Do Not Judge

Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.”

Devotional

Do you really trust God? Or is that something you just tell yourself and others?

This portion of the Sermon on the Mount reminds us that religion, wealth, and the challenges of life often undermine our most basic commitments to God.

Broadcasting our piety before others, such as with fasting, only demonstrates our dependence on people rather than God for ultimate approval. Pursuing wealth to the detriment of our faith reveals that we draw more security from our possessions than the Father who gives us all things to enjoy. Worrying about the future insults the Creator, who meticulously meets needs for every part of creation. Judging others prematurely without first examining our motives and integrity elevates us to a place that only God deserves.

Trust Him for the affirmation you seek. Rely on Him for the security you need. Rest in Him for the relief that anxiety steals. Wait on Him for the justice you long for. Only then will trust become more than a slogan.

—Dr. Adam Dooley

Dauphin Way Baptist Church, Mobile, AL

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Your Turn

Does that hit home for you as it does for me? Do you find yourself seeking the approval of others even as you practice your faith? Take a moment to get with God and ask for His help to trust only in Him. Join the conversation on our blog! We’d love to hear about your growing trust in the Lord! ~ Devotionals Daily