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 can have great concerns about our relationship with God.
We know that He is all knowing (omniscient), all powerful (omnipotent),
and everywhere (ubiquitous). We know that He has concerns about the
everyone in the world collectively, but for whatever reason, some people
wonder if He cares about them individually.
Why would a person feel that way? It could be that they believe there is a
‘threshold of goodness’ and unless they cross it, God will not include 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, because there is tension in their home,
because they have financial or business problems, and/or because there are
too many other problems to list. In addition, there could be sin in their lives.
It may be a particular sin that they just can’t seem to relinquish. They have
tried to break free from it, but it is so powerful that it still controls them.
Any, or all these things, could make someone feel unworthy of God’s attention.
This type of thinking can be embellished by Satan, and he can cause a person 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.
However, while he was 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,
that same day! That is a good depiction of how much God cares about each
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 6:25-27)
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 16:9a)
We have seen how God cares for those with messed up lives and
those who don’t 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 shouldn’t allow
Satan to convince us otherwise.
ACTION:
We should ask ourselves:
– What kind of relationship do I have with the Lord?
– Have I accepted God’s salvation for me,
and am I allowing Him to change my life?
If so, then shouldn’t I spend my ‘worry time’ serving
the Lord and pointing others to Him, so they can also
receive freedom from worry?
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 more of His
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 trying to convince us that it’s okay
to continue those sins. Our decisions should be influenced by what
the Lord says to us (in His Word and in our conscious), rather than
listening to the one who is the antithesis of God.
Does the Lord speak to us? Yes, He does and He assures us that when
we respond to His voice, He will open our minds to the things He wants
us to know and understand.
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.
I pray that You will purge me of unrighteousness and fill me with
Your righteousness so I will live a life that is more pleasing to You.”
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