DAY #114: Luke 12:22-40

Jesus continued to highlight the priorities of those who want to follow him. Again, these words were directed not to the crowd in general, but to his disciples. Just as their attitude toward money should differ from the world’s, so their life view should be different. All the goals and worries in life can be entrusted to the loving heavenly Father who promises to meet every need. The command, don’t worry, does not imply lack of concern, nor does it imply that people should be unwilling to work to supply their own needs and thus have to depend on others. Instead, Jesus was saying that worrying about food and clothing should never take priority over serving God. Worriers immobilize themselves and focus on their worries. They refuse to trust that God can supply their most basic needs.


Worry accomplishes nothing; it is wasted effort. While worry cannot add a single moment to a person’s life, it can damage that person’s health, cause the object of worry to consume one’s thoughts, disrupt productivity, negatively affect the way the person treats others, and reduce the ability to trust in God.


Like the ravens who do not store up food for themselves in barns, neither do the lilies work to array themselves. If God feeds the birds and clothes the earth with beauty that surpasses the fine garments of King Solomon, then will God not also clothe his people? Jesus was not condoning laziness while waiting for God to provide. He wanted his disciples to understand that they should place their lives in God’s hands, refusing to worry about basic needs. It shows little faith to worry over what God has promised to provide.


Jesus told his disciples to make the Kingdom of God their primary concern. This means to submit to God’s sovereignty today, to work for the future coming of his Kingdom, to represent God here and now, and to seek his rule in our hearts and in the world. So many spend their time worrying about the basics of life, but Jesus says to think about the Kingdom first, and God will give you all you need from day to day. Christ’s promise is not that Kingdom seekers will get everything they desire, but that the necessities for faith and service will be in abundance. When God’s children have their priorities right, they can trust that God will always care for them. They may not become rich, but they will not lack what they need.


The Kingdom is worth making a priority, for one day God the Father will give it to those who faithfully follow him. The Kingdom is a certain reality, so God’s people need not be afraid. Fear and worry will be constant companions to those who devote their lives to getting, achieving, and protecting what they have.


Because of the certainty of the Kingdom coming and because it would be coming in the future, waiting for it requires both faith and vigilance. God’s people must be awaiting his arrival so they too can welcome him the moment he arrives. Servants who are ready and waiting for the master’s arrival will be rewarded. The master will be so pleased upon his arrival that he will serve them. Such a reversal of roles likely will not happen in the world, but in God’s Kingdom such a welcome will await those who were ready.


SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

Thank you for Your word Lord. Thank you for how it challenges me and encourages me and confronts me with Your truth.

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)


Lord, raise up whole-hearted, fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ here at COV. Men and women who will count everything else in life a loss to knowing You.


"What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ." Philippians 3:8 (NIV)


Lord, walk with my kids. Everyday that You allow them to draw breath, give them a hunger to follow You and walk with You and stand up for You and speak out for You. Walk with Kelsey and Matt. Bless their ministry and expand their influence. Use them to build a youth ministry that reaches thousands of students for You. Walk with Drew and may the same spirit of God that rested upon Moses and Elijah and David and Joseph and Daniel - may it rest upon Drew. Keep him pure and build him into a mighty man of God. Lord, walk with Katie. Bless her. Lord, use her to be the light of Christ on her campus. Give her courage and boldness to share the love of Christ and Lord let her use the platform You've given her to honor you and give You glory at every turn. Finally Lord, walk with Emily. Give her a heart for discipline. Give her a heart for people. Birth within her every day a desire to be Your woman and to please you. Even if it means going it alone Lord, help her follow You. And in that aloneness build her faith and relationship with You. Use Emily to change the world.