Humans have a propensity towards worry. I have a propensity towards worry! This is why, I believe, Christ explicitly taught his people not to worry. If it was an easy task for us to put down the mental baggage of things that hold no eternal value, then it would have been an unnecessary lesson when Jesus addressed it in the famous Sermon on the Mount. But, in His infinite wisdom, He knows us. He knows our frailties and our earthly worries. He is aware of how things press on us and weigh us down. 

What, then, is the antidote? 

Matthew 6:33

Let's back up and briefly survey the context. 

Jesus was speaking to a substantial number of people from a Mount. This portion of scripture comes directly after Jesus addresses the matter of eternal treasures. After demonstrating the fleeting and corrupt nature of things on this earth (Matt 6:19), He goes on to address our human worries about earthly things. 

Jesus poses two key object lessons - perhaps drawn from the nature which surrounded them. 

1) Behold the fowls of the air - they are fed by the heavenly Father, yet they do not sow and reap as we do. God cares intimately for their daily need for nourishment. 

2) Consider the lilies - they grow and are arrayed in beauty as garments. God 'clothes' the fields in beauty yet they do not spin or toil to gain this. 

The concerns for food and clothing are the most basic of human needs, yet Christ tells us to not be anxious about them. Why? Because our "heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things." 

Does this mean that we sit around and wait for God to provide? Well, in reflecting on other scriptures (e.g. 2 Thessalonians 3:10), I'd suggest that no we aren't to just sit around and wait for provision to drop in our laps, but this sermon speaks to the matter of our priorities. When our minds are consumed by earthly worries and needs, we miss the bigger picture. We miss the opportunities to seek His Kingdom. We miss the call to spread the message of His kingdom because we are too absorbed with the here and now. 

So, what do we replace our worry with? A focus on Christ's kingdom. An occupation with a heavenly agenda. 

Seek first the kingdom of God. 

6:4 [common print ratio]

Hey there! Long time no see. This little project has been on the backburner for quite a number of years now, but every now and then I get a wave of inspiration to come on here and update things! Well, today is one of those days. 

Being recently diagnosed with COVID-19, I'm currently spending some time in isolation. As I was flicking through my Bible promise book I came across this verse: 

Proverbs 19:6 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.

Quite timely. This verse has been a continual reminder to me over the years that I am not the one in control. I'd often like to think that I am and I would often like to be, but I am not in control. The control that we feel in our lives is merely an illusion (as one of our wise Pastors once put it). We can make all the plans, do all the things, buy all the self help tools for building the 'life of our dreams' but ultimately God directs our steps. 

Let's accept his directing hand. 

3/10/2013 {2nd Morning Session}

Not Ashamed - Pastor James Herringson