Wednesday 14th November

Matthew 6:25-34 

Jesus continues in verse 30 with this encouraging statement “And if God so wonderfully cares for the wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you”(NLT). How great it is to know that our Heavenly cares intently for our every need. But Jesus doesn’t stop there. In verse 31 and 32 Jesus issues and strong warning to His disciples. He tells them that worrying about physical needs and daily provisions is what Gentiles (unbelievers) do. In modern day terms worrying is Practical Atheism. Why… because Jesus clearly states at the end of verse 32 that He already knows what we need before we even ask. In other words if we worry about what we will eat, drink and wear we are saying that we don’t have enough faith to believe that our God is our Almighty Father that supplies us with our every need. In fact Jesus uses the statement ‘O you of little faith’. We are to put our trust in our Almighty Father and know that He will look after His children.

Jesus in verse 33 takes it one step further. He encourages the disciples not to even think of worldly material possessions but rather to seek God’s Kingdom (His salvation) and live righteously before Him and God will take care of everything else. Robert H. Mounce in his commentary on Matthew rightly states that “Instead of nervous anxiety about those basic physical necessities that God in His providence is perfectly able to supply….” we must “…seek God’s Kingdom and that righteousness of life that demonstrates obedience to His divine will.” Simply put, don’t focus on what you have or don’t have, but rather focus on Jesus and bringing glory to His Name. God will take care of the rest. That is His promise to us; it is His own words. A preacher once said that when you are going through a hard time not follow your emotions but rather stand firm and fast on God’s unchanging, infallible, inherent WORD OF GOD. For in it there you will find the strength to get you through your situation and realise it’s not about you and your needs but about who God is and what we can give to Him.

Jesus issues a final warning in verse 34 and tells us one final time. Do not worry about tomorrow. He didn’t say that our lives would be without problems but instead we must increase our faith to rely on Him daily. We may not know what the future holds but we know who holds the future in His Hands. 

Daily Prayer

Lord I pray for those without, that You in Your grace will provide for them. I thank You that You have given me all I need in the world. Lord I thank You far more for the provision of Your Son Jesus Christ who has paid my price for my sin and shame that I may forever have an eternal relationship with You. Let me not seek after material possessions but seek after Your will in my life so I may bring glory to Your Name. Amen