on March 12, 2014
Luke 12:27-31 – “Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 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, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
Think about it! How do the lilies grow? What do they grow from? What do they grow into? They grow from a bulb, that is dormant in the winter but it sprouts forth in the spring sun and rain to give a colorful array of beauty that not even Solomon could match when dressed in his finery. You never see them needing to strive for that beauty by hiring themselves out like people do, nor do you see them sitting and spinning like dressmakers do to make clothing. Nope, all of their beauty and vitality comes from what God created and programmed them to be! Think about it! If this is the way God clothes the grass of the field, that is very fragile and lasts only a short season, what do you think He has planned for YOU and put within YOU by His Spirit and grace? How hard we tend to work to make ourselves look good for everyone around us! We work and work so that we can have fine fashion in clothing, sharp looking automobiles, and expensive homes and fancy culinary! Is this the way to discover the beauty God has programmed for us?
Jesus says, “Oh you of little faith!” Our problem is that we set our hearts on these things and we worry about them. The pattern and practice of a pagan and faithless world pursues all these things by toiling and laboring – sometimes by hook or by crook! All of our efforts produce little more than the fig leaves of Adam and Eve in comparison to the beauty and provision that God delights to clothe us with! God knows that we need food and clothing, but He also knows we need what only He can give, much more than these! So, faith is necessary if we would make the things of God’s kingdom our first priority! If we would obtain the beauty and blessings of the kingdom of God, we will need to make them more important than temporal things that we tend to make first priority in life! This takes faith! In a culture that screams at us from every angle, “You need this, you need that! Buy this product! Wait, there’s more!” We definitely need faith to turn a deaf ear to those bombardments and tune in to God’s plan and program!
Now, we should be swift to declare that this is not some excuse for not working at all! That would not be consistent with the rest of God’s Word that deplores laziness and failure to provide for yourself and your family. This is all about priorities, values and perspective on things that are temporal and things that are eternal! It’s all about TRUE BEAUTY, FOOD that really satisfies, and experiencing the plan and purpose of God fulfilled in our lives! Do you believe that God’s ways are best? Do you believe that His precepts, statutes and laws are superior to all others? Wisdom teaches us that they are and faith moves us to take them to heart and put them into practice. Jesus is the sunshine (Sonshine) we need to receive and the Bible is the rain we need to drink in! So, seek His kingdom, and those things that everyone else worries about so much, and works so hard for… they will be given you as well! Ask me sometime about our God mobile!
Thursday: Meet together with at least 1 or 2 other believers to enter the Throne Room of Grace.
Friday: Pray for the families of the week: Matt & Becky Hakes (Stevie, Lydia), Ben & Jen Martin (Emma, Grace, Benjie, Callie, Daniel), Laura Mohr.
Saturday: Think about the flowers of the field and where their beauty comes from!
Sunday: Think about your value and the plans God has for you and worship our Creator!
Monday: Let the beauty of God’s kingdom and His righteousness permeate your life.
Tuesday: Cease your worries about life and trust God to care, lead and supply your need!
Wednesday: Remember that life is more than this life! Live the life that is eternal!
Prayer Challenge – Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. – Colossians 3:1,2.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. – 2 Corinthians4:18. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD… “ – Jeremiah 29:11-14.