Why do you worry? March 2020

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Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?[c] 28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ----Matthew 6.26-30

You are of much more value than they.  These are truly words to live by.  

Next time that you are outside look up and find a bird in the sky.  Or perhaps he is sitting on his perch. Consider that bird.  He does not plant seeds or harvest wheat.  He does no preparatory work for his food (his most basic need). And yet he has everything that is needed for his life. Jesus' comment is that the Father has given that bird what he needs to survive.  Nothing more, nothing less. And you!  You! Are more important than that bird.

If there is not a bird to see, look on the bluebonnets in the field.  The green grass is covered with the flower like a garment.  There's hardly anything so beautiful in nature than an ocean of blue in a grass field.  But when the short season is over the bonnets and grass both turn brown, are mowed, and used as compost.  Not even the finest statesmen will wear a suit as beautiful as that field.  And you!  You! Are more beautiful to God than that flower or that blade of grass.  God has given you everything you need.

As you and I go chasing around the luxuries of this life, of travel, of education, clothes that make us happy, we continue to add to our expectations of what is required for a happy life.  A good job, a nice car and house, and of course recreational time have become the expectation.  But our world is pausing right now and it's a good time to reassess what is important. 

In the current corona climate we see the stripping away of all the stuff that keeps us busy, the rubbish.  We've been separated from education, recreation, stability in schedules and work.  We're separated from the relative certainty of paychecks.  Even separated from our God-given-call to worship corporately.  

Separated from these things what is there left to do?  Watch TV? Read a book? Don't you get tired of that?

But to have a conversation with the Living God...to pray, to read the word, and listen to what he has to say to you.  To stumble across a teaching of Jesus that catches you at the right moment and resonates with your spirit.  You are inseparable from these opportunities.  And these moments of intersection with God are eternally yours and mine.

During this wilderness of isolation we have been presented with what we asked for and what we need.  So often I hear people ask for our world to slow down a little bit.  Now for many it has almost stopped.  This is your opportunity to smell the roses, to be still and know that God is God.  Do not worry for your life is not your own. You belong to God.