13th November 2024

13th November 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (Matthew 6:25-34 focus 26-31)


Message (Alan Burke)


I think I’ve calmed down a bit since I wrote Monday’s devotion, took the dog for a walk and reminded myself how the Lord is providentially in control and that he has every day ordained for me and you (Psalms 139:16). Jesus tells us not to worry, not to worry about what we eat, drink, the body, what we will wear because life is more important than those things. Jesus now makes it clear the foolishness of worry, whether that is about the wains or Trump, monkeypox or microplastics or how the 1.5C target has been broken and he does that by directing us to nature. Those whom Jesus spoke to were those who knew what it was to struggle for their daily bread whereas you’re finishing off your foie gras with truffle shaving with a sprinkle of Kamebishi Soy Salt on top, those Jesus spoke to knew what it was to worry for what sustained them and the antidote to worry is to look at the birds of the air. The birds don't plant or reap, they don't store away in barns, they don't work hard in order to make sure that there is food for their future needs, the reason why is that our heavenly Father feeds them.


So the birds are provided for by our heavenly Father, and Jesus makes the point are we not much more valuable than they? Well, I know the world has gone daft the woke agenda is dire, but I hope that some of us and I include you have some sense of reality left and know that we are more valuable than bird as we are made in the image of God, they are not. This of course this doesn't mean that work for the believer is unnecessary, he Lord through Paul makes the point in 2 Thessalonians, “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat” 2 Th 3:10, in Thessalonians, there is an emphasis apply we are to work to provide for our own needs, the birds aren't lazy, they’re not idle, they work but they are not filled with worry, they are not anxious about where their food comes from. 


To this Jesus adds in verse 27 ” who are you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? I'm aware that some of you use the King James version, where it says; 27  Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? The reason for the difference between adding an hour or adding one cubit is that that the word that is translated as hour and cubit can be used to either speak of height or time. In a sense it matters not we cannot do it, either time or height, we are not God and get these things are small things when we compare them to the work of God in creation and sustaining the world and all that is in it. Then Jesus gives another antidote, this time he compares the lilies wildflowers of the countryside and how Solomon in all his splendour wasn’t dressed as one of them. 


Solomon, the son of David had great wealth (1 Kings 4:20-28), we're not told specifically what he wore, but it was believed at the time because of his great wealth that he would have dressed in royal purple, the most expensive of all dyes, and he would've been adorned and gold and jewels. If you had great wealth in Jesus day would've dressed like that. Solomon in all his splendour was new match for the wildflowers for the lilies. These wildflowers these lilies could've been displaying their beauty one day and scorched withered and died the next. Just like the grass of the field here today and tomorrow is thrown under the fire. Their beauty was something to behold but now gone.


What Jesus is doing here as he makes this point of how fleeing life is, but he is also making the point of how much more valuable we are than the flowers, than the grass, and he will clothe them. Think to the 40 years of the wilderness generation their garments lasted the entirety of the time they had no need for new ones. To that he adds “O you of little faith”. It is like a faith for the disciples that is the cause of their worry of their anxiety. Their Heavenly Father could provide. Because of this, we should not worry, asking what shall we eat, or what shall we drink or what shall we wear? Not worry about what the media feeds us, for the Lord God is providently in control of all things. The treatment plan for us in the midst of our worry our anxiety is to remember who the Lord is. 


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q34. What is adoption?
A. Adoption is an act of God’s free grace, whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges, of the sons of God.
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