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The Scriptorium

Inner Life with God

It's between you and God, first of all. Matthew 6.1-15

Matthew 6: The Sermon on the Mount: Inner Life (7)

Pray Psalm 15.1, 2.
Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle?
Who may dwell in Your holy hill?
He who walks uprightly,
And works righteousness,
And speaks the truth in his heart…

Sing Psalm 15.1, 2.
(Arlington: This Is the Day the Lord Has Made)
Lord, who may dwell within Your tent, or on Your holy hill?
All those who keep Your covenant and walk within Your will.

All they who with integrity work peace and righteousness,
forever in God’s house shall be forgiven, kept, and blessed.

Read and meditate on Matthew 6.1-15.

Prepare.
1. How important is prayer to life in the Kingdom of God?

2. How did Jesus regard public shows of one’s “righteousness”?

Meditate.
The righteous lifestyle, which is the Kingdom way of life, is nurtured from the inside-out. We must always keep in mind that righteousness comes from God and is for God and His glory. Those who parade their righteousness, making a show of their generosity or spirituality, rob God of His glory, and themselves of the joy of serving in God’s Name; thus they defeat the real purpose of righteousness.

We cultivate the righteous life in communion with God, both in our good works, done for His glory, and in our times of prayer. As we praise God and devote ourselves to Him and His Kingdom, He will provide for and sustain us in the life of righteousness. He empowers us to forgive those who have transgressed against us and to channel His grace to others, for this glorifies Him.

All superficiality of religion is excluded from the life of righteousness. By focusing on developing righteousness from within, in the presence of God and for the glory of God, we will become more like our Lord Jesus Christ and our heavenly Father. We cannot make ourselves righteous, and we must not try to persuade others of how righteous we are. Look to the Father through Jesus His Son. By nurturing a life of prayer, the mercy and grace of righteousness will grow in us and flow out through us in every aspect of our lives, to the glory of God the Father (1 Cor. 10.31).

Reflect.
1. Why is it so important that we not try to show-off our righteousness or spirituality?

2. What does it mean to meet with God “in secret”?

3. How does forgiveness demonstrate the righteousness of God?

This is a fitting conclusion to good counsel, not merely calling us to pray but also showing us how, not merely calling us to give alms but also showing the right spirit for doing so. The instruction is to cleanse the heart. Nothing cleanses the heart but the undivided and single-minded striving after eternal life from the pure love of wisdom alone.
Augustine (354-430), Sermon on the Mount 2.3.11

Shape me from within for true righteousness, O God, so that I may…

Pray Psalm 15.1-5.
Seek the Lord for the day ahead. How will you grow in righteousness? Whom will you serve? How will your communion with the Lord improve?

Sing Psalm 15.1-5.
Psalm 15.1-5 (Arlington: This Is the Day the Lord Has Made)
Lord, who may dwell within Your tent, or on Your holy hill?
All those who keep Your covenant and walk within Your will.

All they who with integrity work peace and righteousness,
Forever in God’s house shall be forgiven, kept, and blessed.

Let truth from every heart proceed, and slander disappear:
Thus shall we know God’s grace indeed and feel His presence near.

No evil to your neighbor speak, nor turn against your friend:
Thus shall you know the end you seek – God’s presence without end.

Let every sinner be despised; but those who fear the Lord
Shall honor have before our eyes, according to God’s Word.

All they who keep their word in faith, though suffering may ensue,
Shall know the favor of God’s grace, His presence ever true.

No greed and no injustice shall they do who seek the Lord;
But on His mercy ever call and stand upon His Word.

T. M. Moore

Worship the Lord!
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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from
The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore

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