Daily Devotion, April 20, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Matthew 6:25-34.

Yesterday, we read Psalm 23 which reminded us that God provides and will always show goodness and unfailing love. Today, Jesus echoes the Psalmist’s understanding of what it means to completely trust God to supply all of our needs, so that we can live free of being worried about physical matters.

Max Lucado, in his book “Traveling Light”, weaves Psalm 23 and today’s scripture together in the chapter titled, “Whaddifs and Howells”. He writes, “Worry is the burlap bag of burdens. It’s overflowing with ‘waddifs’ and ‘howells’. ‘Waddif’ it rains at the wedding? And ‘howell’ we pay for college?” 

Lucado adds, “The biblical word for worry (merimnao) is a compound of two Greek words, merizo (to divide) and nous (the mind). Worrying splits our energy between today’s priorities and tomorrow’s problems”.

Prior to these instructions about “not worrying”, Jesus reminds his listeners that “No one can serve two masters….You cannot serve both God and Money.” Too often, his listeners then and now have divided minds of worry trying to serve both.

Thankfully, Jesus reminds us how much God loves and cares for human beings and will always be seeking and providing ways for life to be lived in the fullness of God’s care. Our response is to be seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness first.

“Seeking first” has a different meaning than God’s being first on our list. It is that God is to be our full focus, the complete center of our lives, or like the analogy of an archer focused on the center of the target.

Jesus reminds his listeners then and now to remember who they belong to. We belong to God, and God will take care of us. Remembering this allows us to be free of worrying, to be free from a life striving for acquiring many things, a life free to be generous because God provides, and free to invest in making a difference in the lives of others.

Personal Worship Option:

What are you worried about today? Psalm 23:2 says, “He leads me beside the still waters.” Ponder this place of peace. Imagine the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. They are cared for and beautiful and yet you are worth so much more. Trust God with today’s worries and live in God’s care and freedom.