|
DEVOTION
Opening Prayer
Almighty God, as you have given Jesus Christ to be Savior and Lord, grant us now grace to accept and rejoice in our salvation and in his lordship. AMEN.
INTRODUCTION
Today’s scripture is part of Jesus’ SERMON ON THE MOUNT. That sermon starts in Matthew 5:1 and goes through Matthew 7:29. Everyone should read this “sermon” regularly to understand how to live the life Jesus is calling us to live. Jesus knows that we worry. It is part of our desire to have control and manage our lives. Jesus knows that our worry interferes with our life of faith in him and God. Let’s read the scripture:
Matthew 6:25-33 NIV
Do Not Worry
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
REFLECTION
If we are seeking first God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness then worry will have no room in our lives. God is faithful and will provide and as disciples we can trust God. God is not a butler or a magic Jeanie who at our behest grants us our wishes and gifts. God knows what we need and is with us in every moment of our lives. Life is not about getting – it is about sharing and caring. God is with us every moment of every day and night.
Seeking God’s Kingdom is our work. Experiencing God grace, mercy, and love is our lives and relationships will keep us from the mundane distractions of worry. We cannot worry and worship at the same time. If we are loving God with all that we are and all that we have and our neighbor as ourselves there is no time or energy to worry. That is the point Jesus is making.
We can in all things and at all times give THANKS to God, not because we have more or less, or can do more or less – but that in seeking God’s Kingdom we are faithful and discover that God is faithful and that our righteousness is fulfilled by God’s grace poured out into our lives.
Do Not Worry – “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (vs. 33.)
CLOSING PRAYER
Go forth to serve is the strength, love, and presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. AMEN.
Blessings,
Pastor Tom
| 
