Sunday, January 27, 2013

Me .. Worry?

My Utmost For His Highest
 
Do not worry about your life . . . —Matthew 6:25

A warning which needs to be repeated is that “the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches,” and the lust for other things, will choke out the life of God in us (Matthew 13:22). We are never free from the recurring waves of this invasion. If the frontline of attack is not about clothes and food, it may be about money or the lack of money; or friends or lack of friends; or the line may be drawn over difficult circumstances. It is one steady invasion, and these things will come in like a flood, unless we allow the Spirit of God to raise up the banner against it.
“I say to you, do not worry about your life . . . .” Our Lord says to be careful only about one thing-our relationship to Him. But our common sense shouts loudly and says, “That is absurd, I must consider how I am going to live, and I must consider what I am going to eat and drink.” Jesus says you must not. Beware of allowing yourself to think that He says this while not understanding your circumstances. Jesus Christ knows our circumstances better than we do, and He says we must not think about these things to the point where they become the primary concern of our life. Whenever there are competing concerns in your life, be sure you always put your relationship to God first.’ CHAMBERS
You struggle with this?  Do you realize that you are struggling with this?  The problem is that these are common struggles in the world .. you must eat .. you must have a means to pay your bills .. you must have a place to rest … But … those facts must not be to primary focus of our lives … they crowd Jesus out … they are in direct competition with our devotion and dependence upon the Lord.  Jesus knew that and that is why He said that.  When you read the Bible always read it with the understanding that of all thing things that God could have shared with us … what you are reading is what He decided was most important.
 
Solomon said that there is nothing new under the sun … Ecclesiastes 1:9  “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”  Customs may change.  Technology will most certainly change … but the struggle between the Spirit and the flesh will always be the same.
 
John 6:63-64  “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.”
 
The things we be worry over and chase after have no eternal value .. but if you don’t have an eternal view on life you won’t see it.
 
Galatians 5:16-17  “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.”
 
When we accepted Christ we took on a spiritual nature … a new life and a new struggle between the old and the new.
 
Ephesians 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
 
The problem Jesus described is really a spiritual battle.  A battle between the Spirit of God and the god of this world.  God can offer what is eternal .. Satan can only offer those things which will be consumed in the fire.
 
Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

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