Matthew 6:8

Tuesday, 31 December 2024   “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. Matthew 6:8   “Therefore not you resemble them, for your Father, He has known, what you have need before you ask of Him” (CG).   The previous verse gave Jesus’ words concerning using stammer-speak in one’s prayers. Now, to continue that thought, he says, “Therefore not you resemble them.”   The words are a logical continuation of what Jesus just said. The ethnicities called out words simply for the sake of calling them out. They repeated themselves, figuring their multiplication of words would somehow have an additional effect. An example of this is noted in 1 Kings –   “So they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, ‘O Baal, hear us!’ But there was no voice; no one answered. Then they leaped about the altar which they had made. 27 And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, ‘Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.’ 28 So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them. 29 And when midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.” 1 Kings 18:26-29   The priests of Baal called out again and again and acted like modern charismatics as they jumped around the altar. They also cut themselves. This is not unlike what many in the RCC do in places around the world (such as the Philippines), flagellating themselves until they bleed during Easter time. Rather than such nonsense, Jesus next tells them, “for your Father, He has known, what you have need before you ask of Him.”   This begs the question, if God has known (the verb is in the perfect tense) what you need before you ask of Him, then why do we need to ask of Him? The answer is the same as any other such thing. God knows that we need to be saved, but He doesn’t just save us because the need exists. Rather, we must believe and receive His salvation through faith, calling on the name of the Lord.   Likewise, it would be unreasonable for believers to walk around getting everything they need simply because the need exists. Such a notion is presumptuous, arrogant, and dismissive of what a relationship between parties entails.   Rather, God expects us to make our prayers known without any fanfare or hoopla and to then wait upon His response in His own good timing. As an example of this respectful attitude, the account in 1 Kings 18 continues –   “And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, ‘Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. 37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.’ 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, ‘The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!’” 1 Kings 18:36-39   Elijah merely spoke out his prayer (he “said”) and waited on the Lord. There was no stammer-speak. Rather, he acknowledged the Lord as God, that his prayer was in accord with the word of the Lord, and that the Lord had the power and ability to do what he asked. With that uttered, the Lord responded.   Our prayers should likewise be prayers of faith, knowing that if He responds, it is according to His will and His timing. We are to simply wait upon Him.   Life application: How often do people’s prayers border on blasphemy, right in services that come on TV? People misquote the Bible in their prayers, they snap their fingers and make claims of God, such as, “I claim healing in Jesus’ name.” They call out for prosperity that is not spiritual but carnal. They use the name of Jesus as a talisman for benefit and not as a source of glorifying God.   We must strive to not get caught up in such things. It is true that we are physical beings with physical needs, but God may have a purpose for our afflictions. To claim healing for something when it is not God’s will is then an implicit attempt to thwart God’s will.   We may not understand the reason for financial trials, physical afflictions, loss through death, or other such things that profoundly affect our lives, but we should never question God’s goodness through these trials. The universe, after all, does not revolve around us. Let God be God. Trust that His plan is perfect and that what He does is perfectly in accord with that perfect plan.   Lord God Almighty, it is not always easy for us to accept the difficult events that come about in our lives. But we do trust that You knew they were coming, that they are a part of Your unfolding plan, and that You will see us through to a good end because of our faith in Jesus. Comfort us in our afflictions and give us the ability to praise You through every storm. Amen.