Showing posts with label The Commands of Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Commands of Jesus. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

The Commands of Jesus: Do Not Worry



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I can honestly say that I have not spent one minute of my life worrying
about the plight of the common sparrow.
I’ve never seen one begging.
I’ve never found one featherless, shivering in the cold.
Apparently, God takes good care of sparrows.

And that’s why Jesus said,
“…Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? …But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matt 6:25,26 and 33)

Because God cares so much about His creation (even little birds matter to Him) Jesus therefore says that we should not worry at all about God’s ability to care for us.
And that makes beautiful sense.
So why is it so hard not worry?

Maybe it’s because while you and I do not know any hungry, homeless sparrows…
We have seen humans begging for food. And we have met people under-clothed and shivering in the cold.
And, If those things happened to them – why shouldn’t we worry about those things happing to us?

Dear Christian, here’s why…
Because, as followers of Christ, nothing comes into our lives that does not first pass through the hand of God. And, in the Cross of Christ, God has proven that He is for us and seeks only what is best for us. We need not worry about God’s desire or ability to provide for our ultimate needs – because all things work together for good to those who love God. Our Father always has our best interests in mind and no one, and no thing, can snatch us out of His hand.

So don’t worry about food, or clothing or anything.
Seek first the kingdom of God and let Him worry about you.

 

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

The Commands of Jesus: Store Your Treasures in Heaven



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I keep my kids in car seats and seat belts when driving.
However, even the addition of airbags and helmets
can not keep them perfectly, completely, safe while we’re on the road.

I carry my laptop in a high-quality protective backpack.
But the durable canvas and thick padding that guard my machine from dings and dents
will not protect it from the sticky-fingers of a determined thief.

It’s true…
A wise man keeps his valuables in a safe place.
A prudent woman protects and guards the things she treasures.
But is anywhere really safe?
Can anyone or any institution guarantee the 100% protection and safety of the things we hold dear?
Nope.

And that’s why Jesus said this,
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt 6:19-21)

Yup. The only truly safe place for anyone or anything is in the infinitely mighty hands of God.
Therefore we must make sure that the things we value in this life are things that have will have value in the next.
TVs, smart-phones, houses, cars and even gold bars are all vulnerable to one form of loss or another.
No sense in investing ourselves in those things. One nuclear bomb can ruin their whole day.

But the things we do for Jesus, the investment we make in His kingdom and the age to come, can never be lost, destroyed or stolen.

So - wear your seat belt, lock your doors, protect your laptop, but - store your real treasures in heaven.
 

Thursday, November 17, 2011


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This is #8 in my series on "The Commands of Jesus"

In His Great Commission, Jesus instructed His followers to go into all the world and make disciples, "Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded." 
So… what did Jesus command? 
That's what we are finding out.