Part 3
DEVOTIONAL
the
MOUNT J
Matthew 6:16 – 7:6
esus continued on with BY DENNIS NICKEL His sermon. As He spoke, I saw a group of Pharisees again implicating the Pharitalking among themselves sees who dressed in beautiful and pointing at Him. They were clothes and lived in nice houses. obviously upset because what “Store up treasure in heaven not He had said exposed them as in this world. You can't serve hypocrites regarding giving and God and money too.” Jesus praying. Now He spoke about spoke then about something fasting, which the Pharisees that affects everyone—worry. were famous for. “Don't be “Don't worry about the things of a hypocrite,” He said, “and everyday life. God will take care promote your piety to others of you. Birds don't worry and by looking gaunt and dishevGod cares for them. Flowers are eled. Don't become a public dressed beautifully and don't spectacle. Instead, with a spin or sew. If God cares about pure heart fast quietly them how much more for you?” at home between you I worry all the time about my and God.” Then He fishing business. Are the hired addressed money, workers doing it right? Will there be enough fish to catch? Will the price of fish go down? Jesus put it all into perspective. “Don't worry about things which your Heavenly Father knows you need. If you seek the kingdom and a relationship with Him, all these things will 8 Alberta Adventist News
DECEMBER 2023
be taken care of. Don't worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow has enough problems of its own. Do not judge other people,” He continued, “or you will be judged. Hypocrites look for a speck in someone else's eye and fail to see the log in their own.” I'll have to admit, when Jesus invited Matthew to be a disciple, I was not very happy and judged Jesus as having made a big mistake. Time has proved me wrong and I have asked both Jesus and Matthew for forgiveness. At first I thought this sermon was just what the Pharisees needed to hear, but now I realize I needed to hear and apply it too. I don't want to be a hypocrite. I want to become more and more like Jesus. Dennis Nickel was pastor for 30 years in Alberta, British Columbia, and Upper Columbia (US) conferences. It was during his morning times with God that he wrote his book A Day in the Life of Jesus.
