Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - WordAction - The Foundry Publishing House of Kansas City, Missouri, United States - The Global Church of the Nazarene for Thursday, 21 December 2017 "God Is With Us—Don’t Worry!" by William R. Carlson - Luke 12:22-34Luke 12:22 To his talmidim Yeshua said, “Because of this I tell you, don’t worry about your life — what you will eat or drink; or about your body — what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24 Think about the ravens! They neither plant nor harvest, they have neither storerooms nor barns, yet God feeds them. You are worth much more than the birds! 25 Can any of you by worrying add an hour to his life? 26 If you can’t do a little thing like that, why worry about the rest? 27 Think about the wild irises, and how they grow. They neither work nor spin thread; yet, I tell you, not even Shlomo in all his glory was clothed as beautifully as one of these. 28 If this is how God clothes grass, which is alive in the field today and thrown in the oven tomorrow, how much more will he clothe you! What little trust you have!
29 “In other words, don’t strive after what you will eat and what you will drink — don’t be anxious. 30 For all the pagan nations in the world set their hearts on these things. Your Father knows that you need them too. 31 Rather, seek his Kingdom; and these things will be given to you as well. 32 Have no fear, little flock, for your Father has resolved to give you the Kingdom! 33 Sell what you own and do tzedakah — make for yourselves purses that don’t wear out, riches in heaven that never fail, where no burglar comes near, where no moth destroys. 34 For where your wealth is, there your heart will be also.
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We see people all around us, frantic to make their purchases. Crowded parking lots at area stores are evidence enough! How many commercials have you watched and how many stores have you visited this month? Sometimes we just get swept up in the mad dash and don’t even realize that we have become more worried about what we don’t have than our blessings. It is people who are fearful and anxious that Jesus identifies as “you of little faith!” (Luke 12:28).
Against this human tendency, we are reminded that God is present, even in the details of life; He is “God with us.” In Luke 12:22-34, Jesus reveals that our heavenly Father knows all about our daily concerns for clothes and food and health.
Perhaps what you really need today is the simple statement of encouragement: “How much more valuable you are” (v. 24). This is how God sees you!
When Jesus says, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom” (v. 32), you realize that you are the recipient of the greatest gift of all–Jesus. He has come for you and has provided for you.---
Hymn for Today: "Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus" by Charles Wesley
1. Come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.
2. Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.
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Thought for Today: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only and unique Son, so that everyone who trusts in him may have eternal life, instead of being utterly destroyed. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but rather so that through him, the world might be saved.(John 3:16-17)
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Please pray: For the development of Christian leaders in Greece.
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