Look Again and Consecrate

"If God so clothe the grass of the field... shall He not much more clothe you?" Matthew 6:30

Today's reading starts off with one of my favorite groups of Bible verses. I first became aware of them through an inspirational video back in college in the late 80's. Since then it's become something special to me. I just wish I would really take heed of what Jesus is saying! I'll go ahead and reprint it here..

Do Not Worry

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^[e]?
²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

One thing from today's reading really stands out. Chambers is talking about people not growing in their relationship. Again Chambers says it better than I could, so I'll requoute it here.

"Consider the lilies of the field" -   they grow where they are put. Many of us refuse to grow where we are put, consequently we take root nowhere. 

For me I read that as asking how many people just float through life and don't make any attempts to "take root" in the Christian faith? Just go from one activity to another, always searching for the next big "high". I know I'm guilty of it, and I'm thankful that I have a church where I can really take root and grow!

Do you Walk in White?

"Buried with Him... that ... even so we also should walk in the newness of life." Romans 6:4

A white funeral - the burial of the old life.

Have you had your last day, or do you still stubbornly cling to elements of your old life?

Called by God

"I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, 'Here am I! Send me'" (Isaiah 6:8)

When people accept Christ as their Savior, they expect God to speak to them frequently, and tell them what to do. However they figure God will "force" them to go where they don't want to go, or put pressure on them.

In fact, God asks for his children to "follow Him", without pressure or threats. He speaks in the still, small, voice to make sure we are properly receptive to hear His voice.

We also joke about wanting God to send us "anywhere" to do His work, but then throw out a list of places we don't want to go. How can we question God about what is the right choice? He knows what's best for us in ways we simply can't fathom.