In a world of turmoil, there's verses I go to often, and remind myself of the comfort, and peace they give.
Do Not Be Anxious
Mat 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Mat 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Mat 6:27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
Mat 6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
Mat 6:29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Mat 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Mat 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
Mat 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Mat 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
As Jesus was teaching on the Mount of Olives he speaks to the people about what is important to seek, the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to them. Our daily necessities, what to eat, drink, and all that we hold valuable to obtain.
We are reminded that though the lilies of the field, and the birds of the air do not toil, but God takes care of them, makes sure they are provided for. They do not spend needless time worrying where their next meal is coming from or if the sun will shine on the lilies blossoms, provision is there for its's existence to live out it's allotted time.
Mark Twain made the statement, "I've had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened." Many people live this way. I've done it, and realized I had to stop and apply his words to my life. Worrying and being anxious won't change any problems we're going through, except bring even more stress on ourselves and possibly cause our health to break down.
An Adam Clarke commentary on Matthew ch. 6:34 gives some good insight.
Take therefore no thought - That is, Be not therefore anxiously careful.
The eighth and last reason, against this preposterous conduct, is - that carking care is not only useless in itself, but renders us miserable beforehand. The future falls under the cognizance of God alone: we encroach, therefore, upon his rights, when we would fain foresee all that may happen to us, and secure ourselves from it by our cares. How much good is omitted, how many evils caused, how many duties neglected, how many innocent persons deserted, how many good works destroyed, how many truths suppressed, and how many acts of injustice authorized by those timorous forecasts of what may happen; and those faithless apprehensions concerning the future! Let us do now what God requires of us, and trust the consequences to him. The future time which God would have us foresee and provide for is that of judgment and eternity: and it is about this alone that we are careless!
Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof - Αρκετον τη ἡμερα ἡ κακια αυτης, Sufficient for each day is its own calamity. Each day has its peculiar trials: we should meet them with confidence in God. As we should live but a day at a time, so we should take care to suffer no more evils in one day than are necessarily attached to it. He who neglects the present for the future is acting opposite to the order of God, his own interest, and to every dictate of sound wisdom. Let us live for eternity, and we shall secure all that is valuable in time.
Now, backing up to seeking the kingdom of God-what is it exactly, and how do we apply this verse to our lives? The B.W. Johnson commentary expounds on this and gives clarity.
Seek ye first the kingdom of God. The promise is made that if we seek it first, and its righteousness, all earthly wants will be supplied. The condition demands,
1.That we seek the kingdom first in point of time. Some propose to secure a competence, and after they have gained it, they will serve God.
2. We must make it first in importance. Everything else must give way before its demands.
3. It must be first in our affections, have our whole hearts. We must "love the Lord our God with the whole heart" (Mat 22:37).
His righteousness. The righteousness that God bestows upon those who are in the Kingdom, Christ's righteousness, the forgiveness of sins in his name.
If you are a child of God, these promises are for you. A good father provides for his children. Our Father in heaven has made every provision for us, if we walk in His ways. We have no need to worry, or be anxious; we can rest in this assurance.
Yes, as Jesus did, we will go through troubles and tribulations, but Jesus went before us. He made it through, He overcame, we can overcome also. He promised us His peace, in every situation.
Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
In Ephesians, we are given a profound statement of Christ-He is our peace. His indwelling presence is the provision of peace to our souls, and the foundation of stability to our lives. This peace describes the work of Christ between Jew and Gentile, between God and man, and encompasses all man must deal with while living in this world.
Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Eph 2:17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Whatever may happen in days to come, the promises given to those who follow Christ are the meat, and the substance of our faith. If you own a bible, I hope you find the time to study it, pray, and get to know the God who created you, to feed your soul and gain the strength in your spirit. It is our faith that will overcome in this world.
1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1Jn 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
Lorna Couillard
Do Not Be Anxious
Mat 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Mat 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Mat 6:27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
Mat 6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
Mat 6:29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Mat 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Mat 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
Mat 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Mat 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
As Jesus was teaching on the Mount of Olives he speaks to the people about what is important to seek, the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to them. Our daily necessities, what to eat, drink, and all that we hold valuable to obtain.
We are reminded that though the lilies of the field, and the birds of the air do not toil, but God takes care of them, makes sure they are provided for. They do not spend needless time worrying where their next meal is coming from or if the sun will shine on the lilies blossoms, provision is there for its's existence to live out it's allotted time.
Mark Twain made the statement, "I've had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened." Many people live this way. I've done it, and realized I had to stop and apply his words to my life. Worrying and being anxious won't change any problems we're going through, except bring even more stress on ourselves and possibly cause our health to break down.
An Adam Clarke commentary on Matthew ch. 6:34 gives some good insight.
Take therefore no thought - That is, Be not therefore anxiously careful.
The eighth and last reason, against this preposterous conduct, is - that carking care is not only useless in itself, but renders us miserable beforehand. The future falls under the cognizance of God alone: we encroach, therefore, upon his rights, when we would fain foresee all that may happen to us, and secure ourselves from it by our cares. How much good is omitted, how many evils caused, how many duties neglected, how many innocent persons deserted, how many good works destroyed, how many truths suppressed, and how many acts of injustice authorized by those timorous forecasts of what may happen; and those faithless apprehensions concerning the future! Let us do now what God requires of us, and trust the consequences to him. The future time which God would have us foresee and provide for is that of judgment and eternity: and it is about this alone that we are careless!
Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof - Αρκετον τη ἡμερα ἡ κακια αυτης, Sufficient for each day is its own calamity. Each day has its peculiar trials: we should meet them with confidence in God. As we should live but a day at a time, so we should take care to suffer no more evils in one day than are necessarily attached to it. He who neglects the present for the future is acting opposite to the order of God, his own interest, and to every dictate of sound wisdom. Let us live for eternity, and we shall secure all that is valuable in time.
Now, backing up to seeking the kingdom of God-what is it exactly, and how do we apply this verse to our lives? The B.W. Johnson commentary expounds on this and gives clarity.
Seek ye first the kingdom of God. The promise is made that if we seek it first, and its righteousness, all earthly wants will be supplied. The condition demands,
1.That we seek the kingdom first in point of time. Some propose to secure a competence, and after they have gained it, they will serve God.
2. We must make it first in importance. Everything else must give way before its demands.
3. It must be first in our affections, have our whole hearts. We must "love the Lord our God with the whole heart" (Mat 22:37).
His righteousness. The righteousness that God bestows upon those who are in the Kingdom, Christ's righteousness, the forgiveness of sins in his name.
If you are a child of God, these promises are for you. A good father provides for his children. Our Father in heaven has made every provision for us, if we walk in His ways. We have no need to worry, or be anxious; we can rest in this assurance.
Yes, as Jesus did, we will go through troubles and tribulations, but Jesus went before us. He made it through, He overcame, we can overcome also. He promised us His peace, in every situation.
Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
In Ephesians, we are given a profound statement of Christ-He is our peace. His indwelling presence is the provision of peace to our souls, and the foundation of stability to our lives. This peace describes the work of Christ between Jew and Gentile, between God and man, and encompasses all man must deal with while living in this world.
Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Eph 2:17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Whatever may happen in days to come, the promises given to those who follow Christ are the meat, and the substance of our faith. If you own a bible, I hope you find the time to study it, pray, and get to know the God who created you, to feed your soul and gain the strength in your spirit. It is our faith that will overcome in this world.
1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1Jn 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
Lorna Couillard
