GOD CARES ABOUT PEOPLE, BUT DOES HE CARE ABOUT ME?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
“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
important than food, and the body more important than clothes?”
(Matthew 6:25)

MEDITATION:
Many of us are concerned about our relationship with God. We
know that He is all knowing (omniscient), all powerful (omnipotent),
and is everywhere (ubiquitous). We know that He has concerns about
the people of the world collectively, but for whatever reason, some
question whether or not He has time for them individually.

Why would someone feel that way? It could be that they believe there
is a threshold of ‘goodness’ that they have to cross before God includes
them in His inner circle. They may feel that they have not been able to
cross that threshold because their lives are mixed up and confused, there
is tension in their home, they have financial or business problems, and
there are many other problems too numerous to list.

In addition, there could be sin in their lives that they just cannot seem to
be able to give up; to break free. Any, or all of these things, could make
someone feel unworthy of God’s attention. This type of thinking can be
embellished by Satan, and cause someone to be convinced that he or she
is destined for hell. That isn’t new news is it? God’s Word tells us that the
fate of everyone is hell, unless we accept God’s salvation plan and allow
Him to change our lives.

Let’s look at an example of someone who knew he was doomed, but
chose to make a last gasp attempt to see if the Lord cared about him.
When Jesus was dying on the cross, one of the thieves knew he had
broken the laws of the land and was receiving his punishment for the
life he had lived. In the midst of his suffering he made an appeal to
Jesus, and how did the Lord respond? He told the thief that he would
be with Him in paradise – the same day! That is a good depiction of
how much God cares about every individual.

When Jesus tells us that we should not worry, He is expressing
how much he cares for those who love, follow, and serve Him.
    “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? 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? Can any one of you by worrying
     add a single hour to your life?
     (Matthew 6:25-25)

Are we important to God? You bet we are! Look at how He
searches to find those who are willing to answer His call to
serve.
    For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to
    strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him…
    (2 Chronicles 16:9)

We have seen how God cares for those with messed up lives and
who do not have a relationship with Him, and we have seen how
He cares for those with an active relationship with Him. God has
love (and time) for every individual and we should not allow Satan
to convince us otherwise.

ACTION:
What kind of relationship do you have with the Lord? Have you
accepted God’s salvation for you, and are you allowing Him to
change your life? If so, then shouldn’t we be spending our ‘worry
time’ serving the Lord and pointing others to Him, so they can
eliminate worry as well?

God didn’t save us to ‘sit’, did He? He equips us to answer His call
to serve, and that’s just one of His many blessings! However, one of
the first steps to serving Him is to ask for His help to eliminate some
‘sinful baggage’ from our lives so we can make room for righteousness.

What things in your life do you ‘know’ are not pleasing to the Lord?
Have you tried to rationalize or justify some sin because it is one that
you just don’t want to give up? What are some things in your life that
would make you ashamed if the Lord walked into your room?

We need to realize that whenever we justify sinful things in our own
mind, Satan is right there with us, and he will try to convince us that
they are okay. Our decisions need to be a result of listening to the Lord,
and not listening to the one who is always the antithesis of God.
    Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my
    thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings.
    (Proverbs 1:23)

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for caring about me. Thank You for
having time for me. Thank You for Your plan of salvation. Thank
You, Jesus, for completing the last steps of God’s salvation plan. I
know that I am unworthy to have a relationship with You, but You
have made the impossible, possible. I want to prove my love for You
by committing to serve You in whatever capacity You desire for me.
During Your greatest suffering, You took the time to assure the thief
of Your love for him, and that assures me of Your love for me too.”

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