The Lord Will Clothe You

Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? 

                                                                                        (Luke 12:27-28 KJV)

The wild roses in the photo were yellow last year. The bush has not bloomed yet; but, the buds are showing pink. I have no control over what color they will display each year. But, no matter the color, they are always beautiful.

Before I left for Florida last summer, I clipped away some of the dead branches. Other than that, I do nothing to help them grow. They are flowers so they can do nothing themselves to flourish. Likewise, there are things in this world that we do not have to interfere with in order for them to come to fruition.  There are many things that we worry about that we don't have to fret about. Our faith tells us that God will take care of them. 

God has called each of us to serve Him and our fellowmen. He has not called us to worry about things that are out of our control or things that are meant to only please our senses. There is no sense in worrying about the little things; like what we will wear. It's a lot of worry over nothing important. It's a lot of worry to satisfy our egos.

Flowers are beautiful to behold. Yet, they do nothing to add to their own beauty. God, Himself, clothes them. Trust Him to clothe you in the righteousness of Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Do Not Fear

"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 than food, and the body more than clothes? Look 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? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"   (Matt 6:25-27 NRSV)

There have been times in my life that I have been quite confrontational when it comes to injustice. Where others were shrinking back and warning me that I should too for safety's sake, I have advanced. I did indeed consider the worst case scenarios before I advanced. What is the worst thing that could happen to me? What is there to fear? Nothing, not even death! I have eternal life.

When considering a new venture; whether it be a new job or investing in a project or a person or whatever challenge the day might bring; again, the same question. What have I to fear? Nothing! Life in this world is temporary. It will all pass. I have eternal life.

Jesus knowingly went forward to the cross; to his death, that we might live. He could have gone in the other direction. He could have; but, he did not. He did not shrink back from saving the world; even though much of the world would reject him. He did not pretend that everything in the world was okay. He was willing to give even his life because the world was not okay.

Do not fear. Our Father in heaven loves you. Believe this and you too will have nothing to fear. You will be much more able to attempt to make radical changes within yourself and in the world around you with the knowledge that God is with you and for you. The world may abandon you. You may even lose many things in this world that you now treasure. But, there is nothing to fear. By faith, you have received eternal life.
 
May God help us to always stand in His truth; in His Way, no matter what possible dangers may lay before us. May He help us to remember that we have nothing to fear for through God's own Son, Jesus the Christ, we have eternal life.

God's Peace - Pr. J

His Words Endure Forever

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. (Matt 24:35-6 NIV)

Way too many Christians spend more time worrying about and even predicting the end of the world. This predicting of doom and gloom takes the focus off of the promises of God. It brings fear into the hearts of many when there is no reason to fear. It refocuses us so that we are not listening to or really hearing the words of promise and hope. The Lord's words will never pass away and his words are a promise that all who believe in him will live for all eternity in the presence of our Father in heaven. (John 3:16, John 14:1-4)

It is time for us to refocus and hear the words; the promises, of the Lord and not the doomsday predictions of humankind. After all; none of us can know the day or time. Only the Father knows. 

Hear the Good News and rejoice: The Kingdom of God, a place in our Father's house, has been secured for all who believe in him by the blood of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J