Matthew 6:27 And which of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure to his stature or to the span of his life.
When you read from verse 25 on and all in conjunction with the remaining verses these words seem to me to be a little sarcastic? I am quite aware that I am insinuating that Jesus is being sarcastic. Jesus knows the answer yet asks the question anyway. And when confronted we would all answer the question correctly by saying, "Not me!" A great example of us knowing the answer or the truth but until confronted we do everything we know not to do. Uneasy, anxious and worry being prime examples.
Psalm 39:5-7 Behold, You have made my days as short as handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing is as nothing in Your sight. Truely every man at his best is merely a breath! Selah [pause, and think calmly of that]! Surely every man walks to and fro like a shadow in a pantomime; surely for futility and emptiness they are in turmoil; each one heaps up riches, not knowing who will gather them. And now, Lord, what do I wait for and expect? My hope and expectation are in you.
There is one word that stands out to me in this verse. Expectation! Singular! One hope and one expectation and they are both in the Lord and come out of waiting.
James 4:13,14 Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a city and spend a year there and carry on our business and make money. Yet you do not know the least thing about what may happen tomorrow. What is the nature of your life? You are really but a wisp of vapor-a puff of smoke, a mist that is visible for a little while and then disappears into thin air.
It's true I don't know with any certainty what will happen tomorrow. I work very hard at living in the today and experience some success and some failure. For me I can get so caught up in the future that I miss opportunities today. They fly right by me and go unnoticed until I am reviewing my day as I lay my head on the pillow. I may only be a wisp of vapor-a puff of smoke, a mist that is invisible, but my desire is for that wisp, vapor or mist to be completely filled with Him.
That puff of smoke, that mist of vapor a sweet smelling aroma to Him and those around me.
I Corinthians 7:31, 32a And those who deal with this world - over-using the enjoyments of this life - let them live as though they were not absorbed by it, and as if they had no dealings with it. For the outward form of this world - the present world order - is passing away. My desire is to have you free from all anxiety and distressing care.
And my desire is to be free from all anxiety and distressing care.
APPLICATION - Take a moment today and consider if anything has changed since becoming acutely aware of Matthew 6:25-27 and the addition of a plant to your life.
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Constantly, I wonder if it is the circumstances around me that God uses to change me or are they just the catalyst to the change...that initial force?
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about this and how I still cannot truly define waiting and while dictionary definitions of anxious and worry can suffice relating to those is difficult for me because as far as my needs go I don't really worry. Occasionally, the passing thought of how am I going to pay for this will come but quickly I get reminded of God's awesomeness and that goes away. The things I get anxious about are things I would like to have happen the wants. Its those things that "would be really cool" or "exciting if this happened" that make me anxious. Sometimes I get over excited about what God is doing instead of who He is. Read my blog for more info. But this was exactly what I've been really meditating over the past couple days what has this catalyzed in my life.
Has anything changed? Um...other than the fact that I see birds EVERYWHERE now?! haha
ReplyDeleteRegarding the addition of a plant to my life:
I have realized how incredibly stubborn I can be (ex: I refuse to drag this thing across campus).
That I favor particular types of communication and learning exercises more than others, but that I can appreciate and see the potential for growth in all of them.
That Ed likes for me to look ridiculous ;)
That I have very little trouble identifying what is truly "important" or a "priority" now (as has been learned by trial and error with Ellie - putting her as priority and also leaving her on the back burner.)
That there has to be balance between spiritual investigation and spiritual application, for faith without works is dead.
Regarding Mt.6:25-27:
I'm not as concerned about some little things anymore...not that I've become apathetic or am now prone to cracking open a door to darkness...there's just some stuff that really doesn't require your energy (in my reality, the enemy tries to distract me with little frustrations that I feel obligated to "fix" or do something about just to drain me of my energy).
I've learned that no matter how many times you read something (particularly Mt 6!), you never fully "get it" - there's always more to learn, another perspective you've never considered before, another meaning behind a simple word...
I've learned to be thankful that Jesus cares about me enough to tell me not to worry. That he doesn't just leave me to "figure it all out" hoping that I'll realize I need to just chill out and rest in Him.
Ok, so this is a little off topic ;) but I was reading vs. 30 and (now that I am trained to consider carefully EVERY WORD) I couldn't help but notice how "exaggerated" Jesus' words were. He compares the grass being alive one moment and "dead" - oh no wait...not "dead", but rather THROWN INTO THE FURNACE! Why is this necessary? Why so dramatic? What's the point of burning grass? Why couldn't he just have said "the grass that is alive today and dead tomorrow"? Wouldn't that have been clear enough? Is it just a metaphor for the grass being burnt to the crisp by extreme sunlight? But he says "thrown into the furnace."
Hm.... any thoughts, anyone?
I am with Megan, I have seen more birds than ever before!! I know now more than ever that the Lord is going to take care of me. No matter what I go through.
ReplyDeleteI was reading this verse today and it really hit me and it leads into one of my favorite verses Philippians 4:11-13 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. I can't think of a time in my life where I havn't been w/o something I didn't need. I have always had shelter, clothing and food. Now there are others less fortunate than me, so I don't know what it is like to be homeless, naked, or hungry. I can say I am blessed to have what I have. I know that by the end of the day my needs are taken care of and I know who supplied my needs
This morning I was looking at the cross references for Matthew 6:26 for the word them, and the verses that I read were from Job 38:41 Who provides food for the raven when its young cry out for lack of food, Psalm 104:21 The lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God, Psalm 136:25 and who gives food to every creature, Psalm 145:15 The eyes of all look to you and YOU give them their food at the proper time, and Psalm 147:9 He provides food for the cattle and the young ravens when they call. It seems to me God provides their source of food when they need to eat. They have no set times during the day to eat, and their provision comes from the Lord. Looks like we can follow the eating habits of birds and lions.
On Megan's rabbit trail of the verse 30. Fire is actually good. Yes it does damage, but the nitrogen mixes in w/ the other nutrients in the soil and it produces a greater chance of crop growth. So.. if you want to take it literally what is thrown into the furnace dies, but what dies a greater growth will come. That goes along with seed, the seed has to die first before any growth can take place.
I have noticed that I am begining to underestand that alot of things will work out with out alot of worry and not looking backward lets you get much farther forward.
ReplyDeleteDue diligence will prevent a lot of problems, and the problems that do come keeping your aim forward helps.
Well I've learned exactly how much of my life I live to please others and how hard it is for me to let go of their opinions and just be me. That's probably been the hardest part for me. BUT there has been a lot of good too. I've noticed myself being less and less self conscious. I'm not 100% but it's a process. I've grown closer to several people doing the same journey, which has been fantastic! I tend to be really self-sufficient, really it's more just surviving I guess, but I'm noticing myself seeking more from God, and becoming more God-sufficient.
ReplyDelete