Matthew Chapters 6&7

Matthew 6 is a great chapter of instruction. So many of us go to church and study and debate with each other on how to be the best "Christian". We look skeptically at others and try to assess if they are making the mark or not. On the flip side of this skepticism and assessment/judgement is an attempt on our part to make sure that appearences are kept up and to make sure that no one will second guess us. Really! Is all this necassary? We spend time concerned about how the World perceives us and in judgement of how we see others. Instead of trying to figure out what everybody should and shold not be doing and what it looks like to everybody else, we need to ask "What does God WANT?" He wants us to sit quietly and get to know Him without the distractions of the World. He wants to impress upon us His way of BEING. Simple private prayers acknowledging God for who He is and what He has done for us. We need to take time to continually ask God for His protection and guidance. Some of us are truly trying to live a righteous Christ-centered life, but we are using the World measuring stick and not Gods.
God does not want us to be stressed. We need to relax in the knowledge that He takes care of us. Life comes at us and God helps navigate us through each situation. God does provide the necessities in life. Food, clothes, shelter, etc...may not be in the quantities or the quality that we desire, but we will always have enough to sustain us. Why make this life so complicated? Life in Christ is simple ( mind you I am not saying it is easy ). Sometimes the results of such a single minded focus in something produces beautiful results. I got to thinking about the Arts and Crafts movement and some of the furniture that came out of it. Simple, straightforward, functional, beautiful. Christ wants us to rest easy in His direction/instructions. Stop trying to figure things out on your own. Most of the time we can't imagine how God will get us through a situation, but here's the kicker; it's not for us to imagine, that is what our FATHER is for.
Chapter 7: Jesus points out that we innately know how to be good to each other and the people we love even though we are corrupt, fallen, sinful people. Our standing with God and with other people is not about doing. Our good works, charity, prayers, etc...mean nothing by themselves. Jesus is literally trying to get to the HEART of the matter; who we ARE. Character, integrity, love; the motivation behind our actions is what matters. Living a life of integrity and Love for Everybody (remember the enemy thing), is difficult since it goes against what most of the World is doing. The World rarely praises or rewards a person with these motivations sometimes because it is not appreciated or quite often because such actions go unnoticed. They are subtle, discreet. Jesus is working on building a quiet strength within us. A Rock Solid strength. Jesus is teaching us that He is the foundation for our lives. We can't go wrong listening to Him and following His example as recorded in the Bible.