Monday, August 2 Choose Your Provider....

Matthew 6: 25-34:
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Last week, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus asked us to consider the question "Who is your master?". This week Jesus is now essentially asking a follow up question, that being, "Who is your provider?"

The question is no less relevant than it was 2000 years ago when Jesus originally asked it. Although the culture and the context has changed drastically, the reality and impact of worry remains just the same. Through out the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus employs the use of questions to teach. Reread the above verse and ask yourself the questions that Jesus asked so long ago.

In these verses Jesus invites us to place our trust in One who cannot fail and to acknowledge that the one who feeds the birds and brings the flowers to bloom is the very One who knows exactly what you will need for today and who gives generously.

As you go to prayer, ask yourself "what I am worried about today?" As you pray, ask God to be your supply for the challenges that you face today and trust that we will be there to do the same for you tomorrow.

34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Sterling Moore