Posts filed under 'Worrying'
If there’s one thing that suffers from more false alarms than almost any other, it’s the return of Jesus. A crank preacher isn’t a genuine crank preacher until he has predicted a precise date on which the return of Jesus will happen. Some crank preachers will claim that it has already happened. Some will even claim to be Jesus. There are plenty of crank preachers about nowadays who claim that the current crises in the Middle East are signs pointing towards the return of Jesus. Paul’s advice to the believers in Thessalonica was, “Don’t be easily flustered or upset by a vision or report or letter … saying that the day of Christ has already arrived. Don’t allow anyone to mislead you.”
Paul’s Second Letter to the Thessalonians — Chapter 2
2:1 With regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and us being gathered together to meet him, please 2:2 do not be easily flustered or upset by a vision or report or letter supposedly coming from us, saying that the day of Christ has already arrived. 2:3 Do not allow anyone to mislead you. It will not happen until people first rebel against God, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction. 2:4 He opposes and sets himself up against all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits in the temple of God, making himself out to be God. 2:5 Do you not remember that, when I was still with you, I told you these things? 2:6 Now you know what is restraining him, so that he can be revealed when the time comes.
2:7 The mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but it is being restrained until the time comes to let it loose. 2:8 Then the lawless man will be revealed. The Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of his mouth, annihilating him by the glory of his presence. 2:9 The lawless man will demonstrate the work of Satan with power and false signs and wonders, 2:10 and with all the deceit of unrighteousness for those who are dying. They are dying because they have refused to love truth, and to be saved. 2:11 Because of this, God sends them a false impression, letting them believe a lie. 2:12 Everyone who has not believed the truth, but has enjoyed indulging in evil, will be condemned.
2:13 We must always be grateful to God for you, our friends who are loved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first ones to be saved through the holiness provided by the Spirit and through believing in the truth. 2:14 He called you through our Good News to share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2:15 Stand firm, friends, and continue practising the habits which we taught you, either verbally or by letter.
2:16 We pray that our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 2:17 will encourage your hearts and sustain you in every good word and deed.
April 7th, 2007
Exams are a big cause of anxiety. Having to speak in public is a big worry producer. There’s often a lot of nervousness before a big sporting contest. You might get an anxiety attack if you’re about to meet someone famous or someone that you really want to impress — perhaps at a job interview or on a first date — or if you’re approaching a situation where there is likely to be a confrontation, perhaps with some anger and violence. According to Paul, the best way to get rid of anxiety in life is to hand the worries over to God, have faith that he has your best interests at heart, and thank him for taking care of the problems.
Paul’s Letter to the Philippians — Chapter 4
4:1 Friends, my pride and joy, I love you and long for you. Remain true to the Lord, my dear friends. 4:2 I urge Euodia and Syntyche to reconcile in the Lord. 4:3 Yes, and I ask you, my true comrade, to help these women, because they worked for the Good News with me, and also with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, Rejoice! 4:5 Your kindness should be evident to everybody. The Lord is near. 4:6 Don’t be worried about anything. Tell God everything you desire by praying and asking and giving thanks. 4:7 The peace of God, which is too great to understand, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
4:8 Finally, friends, focus your minds on things which are true, things which are honourable, things which are right, things which are pure, things which are agreeable, things which are praiseworthy, anything which is good or admirable. 4:9 Do the things which you learned from me, which I gave you, which you heard from me, and which you saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you. 4:10 I am very grateful to the Lord that you have at last thought about me again. You actually have been thinking about me, but did not have an opportunity. 4:11 I am not saying that I am short of anything, because I have learned to be content in any conditions. 4:12 I know how to live in poverty, and I know how to live in prosperity in any and all circumstances. I have experienced both being full and being hungry, both having plenty and not having enough. 4:13 I can do all this through the one who strengthens me. 4:14 But it was good of you to share in my troubles. 4:15 Philippians, you know that when I started proclaiming the Good News in Macedonia, no church other than you shared with me by giving and receiving. 4:16 Even in Thessalonica you helped me out more than once when I was in need. 4:17 I am not looking for a gift, but I want to see your blessings increase. 4:18 I have all I need and more. I am well stocked with the gifts that you sent through Epaphroditus, a sweet-smelling fragrance, an acceptable and pleasing offering to God. 4:19 My God will meet every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 4:20 Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever! Amen.
4:21 Greet every believer in Christ Jesus. The believers who are with me greet you. 4:22 All the believers greet you, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household. 4:23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
March 27th, 2007
In today’s reading, Paul said, “I am happy with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles, for Christ’s sake. I am strongest when I am weak.” He meant that you only become truly effective as a follower of Jesus when you stop trying to do everything yourself and start letting God work through you. When you know that you are weak God can do amazing things through you, because God’s power is made perfect in your weakness. This is not an argument in favour of deliberately trying to be weak or doing less than your best; it’s an argument for recognising when God is working through you to do far more than you can do in your own power.
Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians — Chapter 12
12:1 I will keep making claims, although it is not really appropriate. Let me come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 12:2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up into the third heaven. Whether this happened in the body or out of the body, I do not know. God knows. 12:3 I know that this man — whether in the body, or outside of the body, I do not know; God knows — 12:4 was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which a man is not permitted to say. 12:5 I will make claims on behalf such a person, but I will not make claims on my own behalf, except in my weaknesses. 12:6 If I want to make claims about this, I will not be stupid, because I will be telling the truth. But I do not do it, so that no one will think more highly of me than what he sees in me, or hears from me, 12:7 in spite of the amazing nature of the revelations. To stop me becoming arrogant, I was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me. 12:8 I pleaded with the Lord three times for him to take it away from me. 12:9 He has told me, “My grace is enough for you, because my power is made perfect in weakness.” So I am happy to talk about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can fill me.
12:10 I am happy with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles, for Christ’s sake. I am strongest when I am weak. 12:11 I have said some stupid things, but you forced me to, because I should have been thought of highly by you, as I was in no way inferior to super-apostles, though I am nothing. 12:12 The signs of a true apostle were patiently performed amongst you, signs and wonders and mighty works. 12:13 How were you inferior to the other churches, except in that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong.
12:14 This is the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you, because I am not after your possessions, but you. The children should not save up to support their parents. Parents should support their children. 12:15 I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, will you love me less? 12:16 Assuming I did not become a burden to you, you might claim that I was crafty, and caught you with deception. 12:17 Did I take advantage of you by means of anyone that I have sent to you? 12:18 I encouraged Titus, and I sent him to you with our brother. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Did we not live by the same spirit? Did we not follow the same steps? 12:19 Do you think that we are excusing ourselves to you? In the sight of God we are speaking in Christ. Everything we do, dear friends, is to encourage you. 12:20 I fear that when I come, I might find that you are not as I would like, and you might find that I am not as you would like. I fear that there might be arguments, jealousy, outbursts of anger, rivalries, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disturbances. 12:21 I fear that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieving for many people who have been caught up in sin and not repented of the uncleanness and sexual immorality and depravity which they have committed.
March 10th, 2007
The idea of blaming someone else for the misfortunes which happen to us is as old as humanity. In the garden of Eden, Adam was quick to blame Eve for tempting him to eat the forbidden fruit, and Eve was quick to blame the serpent. Soon the sport of passing the buck reached epic proportions. On the other hand, human nature does not seem to be gracious enough to look for someone to blame when something good happens. People who encounter good fortune are usually quick to step up to accept the accolades for bringing about the good fortune by their own skill or personality or cleverness.
John’s Account of the Good News — Chapter 9
9:1 As he was passing he saw a man who had been blind since birth. 9:2 His disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, to cause him to be born blind?” 9:3 Jesus answered, “This man did not sin, and neither did his parents. He is blind so that the power of God can be revealed in him. 9:4 We must do the work of the one who sent me while it is day. The night is coming, when no one can work. 9:5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 9:6 After saying this he spat on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and put it on the blind man’s eyes. 9:7 He said, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”). So he went away, washed, and came back seeing. 9:8 The neighbours and those who had previously seen that he was blind said, “Isn’t this the man who sat and begged?” 9:9 Some were saying, “It is him.” Others were saying, “He looks like him.” He said, “It is me.” 9:10 So they asked him, “How were your eyes opened?”
9:11 He answered, “A man called Jesus made mud, put it on my eyes, and said, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash.’ So I went away and washed, and I could see.” 9:12 They asked, “Where is he?” He said, “I don’t know.” 9:13 They took the man who had been blind to the Pharisees. 9:14 It was a Sabbath when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 9:15 The Pharisees asked him again how he received his sight. He said, “He put mud on my eyes, I washed, and I see.” 9:16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he doesn’t keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such miracles?” They were divided. 9:17 They asked the blind man again, “What do you say about him, because he opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”
9:18 The Jews did not believe him when he said that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 9:19 and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How can he now see?” 9:20 His parents answered them, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 9:21 but we don’t know how he now sees, or who opened his eyes. He is old enough to speak for himself. Ask him.” 9:22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews. The Jews had already agreed that anyone who said he was the Christ would be expelled from the synagogue. 9:23 So his parents said, “He is of age. Ask him.”
9:24 So for a second time they called the man who had been blind and said, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” 9:25 He answered, “I don’t know if he is a sinner. One thing I do know: I was blind, and now I see.” 9:26 They asked again, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 9:27 He answered, “I told you already, but you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples?”
9:28 They insulted him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 9:29 We know that God has spoken to Moses. But as for this man, we don’t know where he comes from.” 9:30 The man answered, “How amazing! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 9:31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshipper of God, and does his will, he listens to him. 9:32 Never since the world began has anyone opened the eyes of someone born blind. 9:33 If this man was not from God, he could do nothing.”
9:34 They answered him, “You were born in complete sin! Are you trying to teach us?” They threw him out. 9:35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and he found him and said, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” 9:36 He answered, “Who is he, Lord, so I can believe in him?” 9:37 Jesus said, “You have seen him. He is the person speaking with you.” 9:38 He said, “Lord, I believe!” and he worshipped him.
9:39 Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, so that people who don’t see can see, and people who see can become blind.” 9:40 Some Pharisees who were present heard these things and asked, “Are we also blind?” 9:41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would have no sin. But you claim, ‘We can see.’ So you are guilty of sin.”
December 16th, 2006
Quite often people will be slow to accept a change in social status of someone whom they have known for a long time. Over the years everyone gets used to their role in the social order. Some people learn to be the cool crowd. Others learn that their lot in life is to be nerds and social outcasts. It’s hard to accept when someone whom you always looked down on as an outcast and a social misfit suddenly becomes a celebrity. So everyone’s likely to be in for a pretty awkward time if Jesus comes around upsetting the social order.
Luke’s Account of the Good News — Chapter 8
8:1 After that he travelled through towns and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of the Kingdom of God. With him were the twelve, 8:2 and some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had been cast out; 8:3 Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager; Susanna; and many others who used their resources to support them. 8:4 A crowd gathered with people from all towns coming to him, and he spoke using a parable: 8:5 “A farmer went out to plant seeds. As he planted, some fell on the road, and they were trodden on, and the birds ate them. 8:6 Other seeds fell on the rock, but they shrivelled up as soon as they sprouted, because there was no moisture. 8:7 Others fell amidst thorns, and the thorns grew with them and choked them. 8:8 Others landed on good ground and grew, producing one hundred times as much grain as was planted.” When he had said this, he proclaimed, “Whoever has ears to hear should hear this.”
8:9 Then his disciples asked him, “What does this parable mean?” 8:10 He said, “You get to understand the mysteries of the Kingdom of God, but other people only get parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 8:12 The road represents people who hear, but the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they cannot believe and be saved. 8:13 The rock represents people who hear and receive the word with joy, but they have no root. They believe for a while, then fall away in times of temptation. 8:14 The thorny ground represents people who have heard, but along the way they are choked with the cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and they never produce mature grain. 8:15 The good ground represents people who hear the word with an open and good heart, and they hold it tightly, patiently producing grain.
8:16 “No one lights a lamp then covers it with a container or hides it under a bed. Instead, the person puts it on a stand, so that people who come in can see the light. 8:17 Nothing is covered that will not be revealed, and nothing is secret that will not be known and come to light. 8:18 So be careful how you listen. Whoever has something will be given more, but people who have nothing will have taken away from them even the things which they think they have.”
8:19 His mother and brothers arrived, but could not get near him because of the crowd. 8:20 Someone said, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.” 8:21 He replied, “My mother and my brothers are these who hear the word of God, and do it.”
8:22 One day he climbed into a boat with his disciples and said, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they set out. 8:23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. A wind storm came down on the lake, and water was filling the boat so they were in danger of sinking. 8:24 They shook him out of his sleep, saying, “Master, master, we are dying!” He woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they stopped, and it was calm. 8:25 He asked them, “Where is your faith?” They were afraid and amazed at the same time, asking each other, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the waves, and they obey him?”
8:26 They arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee. 8:27 When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a man out of the town who was possessed by demons. For a long time he had been unclothed and homeless, living in the tombs. 8:28 When he saw Jesus he fell down before him, and shouted out, “Why are you disturbing me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please don’t torment me!” 8:29 Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. The unclean spirit had often seized the man, and although he had been kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains apart, and he had been driven by the demon into desolate places.
8:30 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “Legion,” because he was filled with many demons. 8:31 They asked him not to order them into the abyss. 8:32 A large herd of pigs were feeding on the mountain, and the demons asked him to let them enter the pigs. He agreed, and 8:33 the demons came out of the man, and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake, and were drowned. 8:34 When the pig farmers saw what had happened, they ran off to raise the alarm in the town and in the country.
8:35 People went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus, and found the man who had been possessed by demons, sitting at Jesus’s feet, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 8:36 Those who had seen it happen told the others how the demon-possessed man had been healed. 8:37 All the people of the surrounding country of the Gadarenes asked Jesus to leave, because they were very afraid. He climbed into the boat, and went back. 8:38 The formerly demon-possessed man pleaded to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 8:39 “Return to your home, and tell people the great things God has done for you.” He went on his way, announcing throughout the whole town the great things Jesus had done for him.
8:40 Jesus was welcomed by a crowd as he returned, because they were all waiting for him. 8:41 A man named Jairus who was a synagogue official came up. He fell down at Jesus’s feet, and begged him to come to his house, 8:42 because he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As Jesus went, the crowds pressed around him. 8:43 A woman who had suffered haemorrhages for twelve years and had spent all her savings on doctors although none of them could fix her 8:44 came behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. At once her haemorrhages stopped. 8:45 Jesus asked, “Who touched me?” Everyone denied it, and Peter and those with him said, “Master, the crowds press and jostle you, and you say, ‘Who touched me?’”
8:46 But Jesus said, “Someone did touch me, because I could feel that power has gone out of me.” 8:47 When the woman saw that she could not hide, she came trembling and fell down in front of him. She confessed to him in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. 8:48 He said to her, “Daughter, be encouraged. Your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”
8:49 While he was still speaking, someone came from the synagogue official’s house saying, “Your daughter is dead. Don’t trouble the Teacher.” 8:50 But Jesus heard it, and told him, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe, and she will be healed.” 8:51 When he arrived at the house, he wouldn’t allow anyone to go in except Peter, John, James, and the father and mother of the child. 8:52 Everyone was weeping and mourning, but he said, “Don’t weep. She isn’t dead, but sleeping.”
8:53 They ridiculed him, knowing that she was dead. 8:54 But he sent them all outside. Taking her by the hand, he said, “Child, arise!” 8:55 Her spirit returned, and she rose up immediately. He instructed them to give her something to eat. 8:56 Her parents were amazed, but he instructed them to tell no one what had happened.
November 21st, 2006
You can’t do anything to stop hurricanes running through your life. People are going to say unkind things about you. Maybe you will face financial troubles; maybe you will face natural disasters. People that you care about deeply are going to get sick and die. You’re going to get sick and die. What you can choose to do is to build your life on a solid foundation, rather than on sinking sand. If you choose to build your identity around your powerful position at work, or your fancy car, or your good looks, then you’re going to come crashing down when you get fired or your car gets stolen or you get older. But if you choose to build your life on the teachings of Jesus, becoming a servant of others, investing in things that make a difference in the world, then you can learn to laugh in the face of the darkest storm.
Matthew’s Account of the Good News — Chapter 7
7:1 “Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged. 7:2 You will be judged by the same rules you apply in judging others, and you will be measured by the same standard which you apply in measuring others. 7:3 Why do you notice the speck in your friend’s eye, without noticing the plank of wood in your own eye? 7:4 How can you ask your friend, ‘Can I take that speck out of your eye?’ when the plank of wood is blocking your own vision? 7:5 Hypocrite! Get the plank out of your own eye first, so you can see your friend’s eye clearly enough to remove the speck.
7:6 “Don’t give holy things to dogs, and don’t throw your pearls to pigs. They might run all over them, and then turn and run all over you.
7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. 7:8 Because every asker receives. The seeker finds. The knocker gets the open door. 7:9 How many of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 7:10 Or if he asks for fish, will give him a snake? 7:11 If wicked people like you know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask! 7:12 Do for other people whatever you would like them to do for you. This is what the law and the prophets say.
7:13 “Enter by the narrow gate, because the gate leading to destruction is wide and the road is broad, and many people choose to go that way. 7:14 But the gate that leads to life is narrow and the road is confined, and not many people find it.
7:15 “Look out for false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are greedy wolves. 7:16 You will know them by their fruit. Are grapes picked from thorn bushes, or figs from thistle plants? 7:17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a rotten tree produces bad fruit. 7:18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a rotten tree can’t produce good fruit. 7:19 A tree that doesn’t grow good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire. 7:20 So you will know them by their fruit. 7:21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; only those who obey my Father in heaven. 7:22 A lot of people will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy and cast out demons and do mighty deeds in your name?’ 7:23 I will say to them, ‘I never knew you. Go away, your actions were unauthorised.’
7:24 “A person who hears these teachings of mine and follows them is like a wise man who built his house on a rock. 7:25 The rain came down, the rivers rose up, the winds blew and battered that house, but it didn’t fall, because it was founded on the rock. 7:26 A person who hears these teachings of mine but doesn’t follow them is like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 7:27 The rain came down, the rivers rose up, the winds blew and battered that house… and it fell over, with an almighty crash.”
7:28 Jesus finished talking, and the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 7:29 because he taught them with authority, unlike their religious lawyers.
October 7th, 2006
We live in a world of artificial reality. We can choose the news we read, the websites we visit, and the TV programs we watch. We can surround ourselves with artificial comforts and never have to face the harsher realities of life. But ultimately pain, sorrow, grief, disappointment, illness and death come knocking at the door to shock us and catch us unprepared. All of the wealth and possessions that we spend our lives working to accumulate suddenly become worthless. How about completely re-orienting your life? Forget about working for stuff, and instead invest your life in making the lives of other people better.
Matthew’s Account of the Good News — Chapter 6
6:1 “Be careful that you don’t do your good deeds publicly to be seen by others, or else you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 6:2 When you do good deeds, don’t blow your trumpet, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they can be admired by others. I can guarantee that they have already received their reward. 6:3 When you do good deeds, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 6:4 so that your good deeds happen in secret. Then your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
6:5 “When you pray don’t be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets in order to be admired by others. I can guarantee that they have already received their reward. 6:6 Instead when you pray, go into your private room and shut your door. Pray to your Father secretly, and your Father who sees all secrets will reward you. 6:7 When you pray, don’t prattle aimlessly like followers of other religions. They think that they will be heard because they talk so much. 6:8 So don’t be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 6:9 Pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 6:10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 6:11 Give us today our daily bread. 6:12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 6:13 Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
6:14 “If you forgive when people sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 6:15 But if you don’t forgive the sins of others, your Father won’t forgive yours.
6:16 “When you fast, don’t be gloomy like the hypocrites. They distort their faces to make it obvious to others that they are fasting. I can guarantee that they have already received their reward. 6:17 Instead, when you fast anoint your head and wash your face, 6:18 so that you are not seen by people to be fasting, but by your Father secretly, and your Father who sees all secrets will reward you.
6:19 “Don’t accumulate treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break in and steal. 6:20 Instead, accumulate treasures in heaven where moths and rust can’t consume and where thieves can’t break in and steal. 6:21 Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
6:22 “The eye is the lamp for the body. If your eye is healthy, it will let your whole body be filled with light. 6:23 But if your eye is evil, it will shut out the light and your whole body will be full of darkness. If the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
6:24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate one and love the other, or else you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Mammon. 6:25 I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life, what you will eat or drink. And don’t be anxious about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 6:26 The birds of the sky don’t sow and reap or gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you much more valuable than them?
6:27 “Can you add half a metre to your height by being anxious about it? 6:28 Why are you anxious about clothes? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don’t labour or spin, 6:29 yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these. 6:30 If God clothes so well the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the incinerator, won’t he more surely clothe you? Your faith is so small!
6:31 “Don’t be anxious, worrying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘What clothes will we wear?’ 6:32 Other people worry about these things, but your heavenly Father knows all your needs. 6:33 Seek God’s kingdom first, and his righteousness, and all the other stuff you need will be given to you as well. 6:34 Don’t be anxious for tomorrow. Let tomorrow be anxious for itself. Today already has enough trouble of its own.”
October 6th, 2006
