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This week we are continuing to look at Luke 12 and in particular, verses 22-34. Please read them every day this week and, if possible, use a different translation each day, asking God to open your eyes to fresh revelation from His Word.
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Luke 12:22-24 (NIV)
‘Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them.”’
I’m sure that you’re aware of the illustration about a glass being half full or half empty. If you’re an optimistic person then you will think that the glass is half full. If on the other hand, you’re a pessimist then you’re more likely to think that it is half empty.
Some people who are considered to be pessimistic seem to be ‘wired’ like that and will generally have a negative view of the world and events. However, even the people with the brightest of views are prone to worry about some things. On occasion, life throws things at us that can bring us to points of desperation and we can’t see a way out.
Jesus’ first word here is ‘Therefore’. It’s a fantastic word that is found in many parts of the Bible and if you can find the time, it is worth spending time looking through them all. The previous parable is all about being ‘rich in God’s sight’ and how to be totally secure in His provision, His protection and His providence in our lives. Jesus is basically saying that anyone who worries about life really doesn’t understand what He’s just been talking about.
I started by saying that we are all prone to worry in certain circumstances so I’m certainly not standing in judgement over anyone but I am saying that Jesus wants us all to move beyond the ‘normal’ attitudes of life and rise to a level of faith that implicitly trusts Him in everything. Over the next few days, we’re going to focus in on particular areas of life that can cause us difficulty.
My prayer is that we will apply the scripture to those areas and begin to live our lives to the fullest capacity of realisation that God is in everything and cares for us in all circumstances. There is no need to be overly concerned for our well-being. We are in His hands and He has promised to take care of us. That really should be enough to allay all of our fears. Ultimately, worry stems from fear. Someone once said that ‘Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world’.
God loves us unconditionally and His promise is to never leave us or to forsake us. His Word says that ‘Perfect love casts out all fear’. If we are secure in His love, if we are completely assured that that His love surrounds us at all times then fear and love cannot co-exist. Cast out the fear and lean completely on His Word, trusting Him for yesterday, today and for whatever the future may hold. He won’t let you down!
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