Don Fredenburg
Jim Tucker
H.E. 'Hub' Bowen
Mike Coble
Ron Bowen2/15/2018
"So I tell you, don't worry about the food you need to
live. And don't worry about the clothes you need for your body. Life is more
important than food. And the body is more important than clothes. Look at the
birds. They don't plant or harvest or save food in barns. But your heavenly
Father feeds those birds. And you know that you are worth much more than the
birds."
— Matthew 6:25-26
KEY THOUGHT: What does it take to make you content? What allows you to go to bed at night and not worry about tomorrow? Jesus does not want us overly concerned with things that are not of ultimate value to God. In fact, he wants us to know that we are of ultimate value to our Father, so we can trust him for the basics. We shouldn't be overly troubled with the basic needs of life. This doesn't mean we're to be irresponsible or freeloaders, it does mean that we should develop our sense of values so that the focus of our life is not on material needs. As God has declared us of ultimate value by sending his Son to redeem us, we commit to pursue what is of ultimate value—the Father and his Kingdom. When we do that, the necessities will fall into place. Want proof? Look at the birds which regularly receive God's care and we're worth a whole lot more to him than they are!
TODAY'S PRAYER: Father, you have poured your blessings into my life so richly. Forgive me when I worry about things that are not important, especially the material things that distract me. I do believe you will provide all I need as I seek your will, your face, and your Kingdom. In the name of the King of Kings I pray. Amen.
TODAY'S VERSE IN CONTEXT: "So I tell you, don't worry about the food you need to live. And don't worry about the clothes you need for your body. Life is more important than food. And the body is more important than clothes. Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or save food in barns. But your heavenly Father feeds those birds. And you know that you are worth much more than the birds. You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it. "And why do you worry about clothes? Look at the flowers in the field. See how they grow. They don't work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you that even Solomon, the great and rich king, was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers. God clothes the grass in the field like that. That grass is living today, but tomorrow it is thrown into the fire to be burned. So you know that God will clothe you much more. Don't have so little faith! Don't worry and say, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' All the people that don't know God try to get these things. Don't worry, because your Father in heaven knows that you need these things. The thing you should want most is God's kingdom and doing the good things God wants you to do. Then all these other things you need will be given to you. So don't worry about tomorrow. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Tomorrow will have its own worries.
Matthew 6:25-34
RELATED SCRIPTURES: When birds are sold, two small birds cost only a penny. But not even one of those little birds can die without your Father knowing it. God even knows how many hairs are on your head. So don't be afraid. You are worth much more than many birds.
Matthew 10:29-31
It is true that serving God makes a person very rich, if that person is satisfied with what he has. When we came into the world, we brought nothing. And when we die, we can take nothing out. So, if we have food and clothes, we will be satisfied with that. People who want to become rich bring temptations to themselves. They are caught in a trap. They begin to want many foolish things that will hurt them. Those things ruin and destroy people.
1 Timothy 6:6
I know how to live when I am poor. And I know how to live when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of being happy at any time in everything that happens. I have learned to be happy when I have enough to eat and when I don't have enough to eat. I have learned to be happy when I have all the things I need and when I don't have the things I need. I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength.
Philippians 4:12-13
What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware.
Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center.
All rights reserved.
