Motives, thoughts, intentions, what goes on deep inside, are what matter when it comes to religious practice

 Matthew 6:1-15

Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them.

So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others.

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'

 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Motives, thoughts, intentions, what goes on deep inside, are what matter when it comes to religious practice, too. God gives no prizes for an outward show of piety. So Jesus tells his followers to give and pray and fast without drawing attention to themselves. God will reward them. Prayer is to be simple, trusting: as children come to a loving Father, eager to please, conscious of failings. It is expressed in the model prayer Jesus gives his disciples, which we know as 'The Lord's Prayer'

Why?

To be a real Christian, motivation, thoughts, intentions are important than our behavior. If the motivation is correct the behavior will be correct and meet the requirement of the Lord.

Jesus gives us a way to be a real follower. Even the prayer should be for the kingdom of the Lord, not started from our desire.

Forgive other people when they sin against us. Love the enemies and bad guys need more love inside our hearts.

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施捨：八福的憐恤的人。無論什麼人都有憐恤的心。但是差別在於世界上的人是要叫人看見。例如一些廟會刻芳名錄，甚至於以他的名字命名。這是故意要得人的榮耀。為了怕人說沒有愛心。行善很容易落於驕傲，目的不是愛他，而是為了自己。這是以自我中心的憐憫。

禱告：八福的清心的人，飢渴慕義的人。故意叫人看見的禱告，也是以自我為中心的禱告。虛榮心，要人來稱讚他。用重覆的話，例如叫主耶穌一百次，或是同一件事禱告50次，百次，神就要聽嗎？強求神應許嗎？其實是求自己需用的。禱告不是要神來滿足我，我需要的神知道，禱告是求神的名被高舉，以神為中心的禱告。神的權柄行在地上，其中的攔阻就是人及撒旦、魔鬼。求神改變我的心，將以自我為中心改為以神為中心的禱告。我們需要的神都知道，求神讓我們聖潔，不被撒旦魔鬼所利用。

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How?

Pray to the Lord give me more love and faith and strength to follow your way.