4-26-2018

Good Morning All,

    Matthew 6:26; “Look at the birds. They don’t plant, harvest, or gather the harvest into barns. Yet, your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?”

     Why do we do it to ourselves?  Why do we worry about everything?  It is either too wet or too dry.  When we are at work, we worry about being behind in our work or else we worry that there is not enough work and we may get laid off.  We worry about everything.  I used to be fascinated by the young men who played baseball for me.  It seemed some were more comfortable striking out than getting a hit.  If they got a hit; everyone expected them to do it again and they were worried that they wouldn’t.  Some preachers worry about when they get a complement on a sermon that now the next one has to be better!

   I have listened to people who worry about something bad going to happen because they have enjoyed such blessings lately.  It is almost that we feel that every good blessing earns a little punishment; why do we do that?  Why do we punish our self and for absolutely nothing?

    This is what Jesus is addressing in this verse.  Look at the birds; seriously take a look at them.  They have absolutely no worries.  They fly around, eat and chirp.  They don’t worry about the boss or the banker or the government.  They have no worries.  Yet they have no worries because they don’t know any different; what about us?  We do know better, shouldn’t we worry?

    Jesus addresses this in the second half of the verse.  Aren’t you worth more than a bird?  Of course you are!  If God takes care of the birds; how much more will he gladly take care of you!  We have no need to worry; God will provide for our needs.  Worry is the tool of the devil.  The devil uses it to inflict pain and discomfort to us.  Think about what happens when we worry; we don’t sleep right, we don’t eat right, we get crabby and short with others, we fail to act and we can often begin to question God.  Once we do this, the devil smiles.

   When worry hits you, stop, drop and pray!  Ask God to help you and to remove your worry about something.  This will help in all these areas.  Prayer will drive the devil away and we will begin to see a little more clearly what God wants for us.  We will see that it is not others causing us problems but it is our own lack of faith.  We lose sight of God’s grace and mercy. 

We begin to look inward for our answers instead of looking to God as the source of all our needs.  You are worth more than any bird; God sent his Son to die for you in order to redeem you.  He did this because he loves you and values you deeply.

Dear Jesus, you have saved us because you love us.  Give us the courage to trust you to take care of all of our needs.  Be with those who are suffering at this time.  Send your healing Spirit into their lives and into their hearts that they may know your peace.  In your precious name we pray, amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret