Friday we talked about what it was that we were actually being instructed to seek...and my conclusion was that what we truly should be seeking is submissiveness to God's authority as our king and a growing understanding and acceptance of God's righteousness in our lives in light of the fact that apart from Him we have no righteousness.
Now we move to the "then" part of this "if/then" statement...if we seek...then..."all these things will be added to you." We've been told this is a promise for us to hold on to, but don't you want to know what "all these things" are? If I am being promised a blessing, I would like to know what the blessing being promised is.
This is a time where we must look at the preceding verses to know what Jesus had been discussing so that we can know what "all these things" that we will be given actually are.
I think the closing sentence on the passage above is very interesting..."for the pagans run after all these things." We, as Christians, are called to be different, we are called to rely on our Father God. Yet I find myself many times acting like the rest of the world, running after "all these things." I believe one of the great sins of 21st century America is the sin of materialism. And I am so very guilty. I run after things that have no significance just because everyone else is running toward whatever is the "goal of the week." We have been duped into thinking that things can fill a yearning within us, while God clearly tells us to seek Him and He will supply all our needs.
When did we buy into the lie that God is not sufficient to satisfy us. HE is telling us He will never leave us uncared for---when we dedicate our lives to Him, He most certainly will be faithful to His promise to ensure the fulfillment of our needs.
Please Lord, get my eyes off the stuff of this world that is so very temporary...keep my eyes on You, looking forward to each day of glorious living in Your will. Keep my heart at Your feet, surrendered to Your will, each and every day of my life. In my Savior Jesus' Holy name...Amen.
Now we move to the "then" part of this "if/then" statement...if we seek...then..."all these things will be added to you." We've been told this is a promise for us to hold on to, but don't you want to know what "all these things" are? If I am being promised a blessing, I would like to know what the blessing being promised is.
This is a time where we must look at the preceding verses to know what Jesus had been discussing so that we can know what "all these things" that we will be given actually are.
"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?
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? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If 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? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.It appears that Jesus is saying that all of life's needs (food, drink, clothing) will be supplied to us when we are seeking God's authority over our lives and following His directives. Don't forget that we are often reminded to be content with what we have, so we are not promised excessiveness...we are promised our needs.
I think the closing sentence on the passage above is very interesting..."for the pagans run after all these things." We, as Christians, are called to be different, we are called to rely on our Father God. Yet I find myself many times acting like the rest of the world, running after "all these things." I believe one of the great sins of 21st century America is the sin of materialism. And I am so very guilty. I run after things that have no significance just because everyone else is running toward whatever is the "goal of the week." We have been duped into thinking that things can fill a yearning within us, while God clearly tells us to seek Him and He will supply all our needs.
When did we buy into the lie that God is not sufficient to satisfy us. HE is telling us He will never leave us uncared for---when we dedicate our lives to Him, He most certainly will be faithful to His promise to ensure the fulfillment of our needs.
Please Lord, get my eyes off the stuff of this world that is so very temporary...keep my eyes on You, looking forward to each day of glorious living in Your will. Keep my heart at Your feet, surrendered to Your will, each and every day of my life. In my Savior Jesus' Holy name...Amen.
1 comment:
Our needs are for the Word of our God. God will give us what we need, we need His righteousness to flow over us. We need God's Will to guide us. When we come to Christ in prayer we speak to our God and ask that we recognize what He wants for us, to seek His Word and seek Him. Allow and desire Him to live within us.
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