Heavenly Father, thank you for a new day in which to love and serve you. Thank you that we can come boldly before you in prayer, knowing that you will always hear and answer according to your good and gracious will. Lead us into the things that you have planned for us today. Amen Luke 12:22-31 (NIV)
22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
In this passage Jesus is trying to help us see that life, real life, has less to do with food and clothing than it does with having a relationship with Him. He wants us to focus our eyes, our thoughts and our hearts on Him.
We get so caught up in the things around us that we fail to see what God is doing. Eating is important and so is being dressed but when that’s all we obsess about, along with a host of other things, it is easy to miss what God is doing or saying. The worries of life crowd out the very essence of the life that God intends for each one of us. Today God says to us, focus on what I am doing. See how I am providing for my creation of which you are the crown. If I care for ravens and flowers trust me, I will care for you as well.
God has made us a part of His forever family through the death and resurrection of Jesus. He has removed our concerns about the end of our life so that we can get on with real life now. He assures us that when we keep our eyes on Him, as we sang last Sunday, He will give us His Holy Spirit so that we set can our hearts on Him. When by the Spirit’s power we are seeking His kingdom and His will for our lives, just like the ravens and the flowers, He will give us everything we need to live a real life. Knowing that God is in control, regardless of our circumstances, worry becomes a thing of the past.
Lord, thank you for loving and caring for each one of us. Help us to fix our eyes and hearts on you. Help us to seek after your kingdom with the confidence that all of our needs will be met in you. Help us to hold lightly the things of this world and cling tightly to you, knowing that we are safe and secure in your loving hand. Amen.
jhf
Heavenly Father, thank you for a new day in which to love and serve you. Thank you that we can come boldly before you in prayer, knowing that you will always hear and answer according to your good and gracious will. Lead us into the things that you have planned for us today. Amen
Luke 12:22-31 (NIV)
22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
In this passage Jesus is trying to help us see that life, real life, has less to do with food and clothing than it does with having a relationship with Him. He wants us to focus our eyes, our thoughts and our hearts on Him.
We get so caught up in the things around us that we fail to see what God is doing. Eating is important and so is being dressed but when that’s all we obsess about, along with a host of other things, it is easy to miss what God is doing or saying. The worries of life crowd out the very essence of the life that God intends for each one of us. Today God says to us, focus on what I am doing. See how I am providing for my creation of which you are the crown. If I care for ravens and flowers trust me, I will care for you as well.
God has made us a part of His forever family through the death and resurrection of Jesus. He has removed our concerns about the end of our life so that we can get on with real life now. He assures us that when we keep our eyes on Him, as we sang last Sunday, He will give us His Holy Spirit so that we set can our hearts on Him. When by the Spirit’s power we are seeking His kingdom and His will for our lives, just like the ravens and the flowers, He will give us everything we need to live a real life. Knowing that God is in control, regardless of our circumstances, worry becomes a thing of the past.
Lord, thank you for loving and caring for each one of us. Help us to fix our eyes and hearts on you. Help us to seek after your kingdom with the confidence that all of our needs will be met in you. Help us to hold lightly the things of this world and cling tightly to you, knowing that we are safe and secure in your loving hand. Amen.
jhf