Matthew 6: The Sermon on the Mount (33)
Pray Psalm 104.1-5.
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD my God, You are very great:
You are clothed with honor and majesty,
Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment,
Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain.
He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters,
Who makes the clouds His chariot,
Who walks on the wings of the wind,
Who makes His angels spirits,
His ministers a flame of fire.
You who laid the foundations of the earth,
So that it should not be moved forever…
Sing Psalm 104.1-5.
Creation: The Spacious Firmament Above
Bless God, my soul! How great are You, LORD, with majesty and splendor adorned.
The heav’ns He stretches like a tent, and lays His chambers in the firmament.
He rides the wings of winds on high and makes His messengers flaming fly.
The earth on its foundation stands, established forever by His hands.
Read Matthew 6.16-32; meditate on verse 25-32.
What does a tendency to worry indicate?
Prepare.
1. What are we supposed to learn from the birds and lilies?
2. Why should we not worry?
Meditate.This is one of the longest pericopes in this sermon. Jesus knows what’s in us. He knows what we’re like. And in these verses, He shows us how to deal with one of most common and most pressing problems every human must confront: worry.
Easy. Jesus says, “Don’t worry.” But what is worry? Worry is a state of upset that floods the mind with worst case scenarios and the heart with fear. Worry comes about because we realize that we aren’t sovereign. Stuff happens, bad stuff sometimes; and there’s nothing we can do to control it. We aren’t sovereign.
And that’s precisely Jesus’ point. We aren’t sovereign; but God is. God loves all His creation. And if He loves birds and lilies and grass, He surely loves those for whom Jesus came to die. And just as He provides everything all creation needs to exist and flourish, so He will provide for those He loves. So instead of worrying, we should let creation remind us of the words of Jesus, and rest in the sovereignty of God.
Day by day, in all our activities, focused on Christ and His coming-on-earth Kingdom, we can know hope, confidence, and joy; nothing can make us afraid or cause us to worry when our focus is as it should be. Each day will have its unique challenges and struggles. But if we are seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, nothing will keep us from realizing everything the Lord has in store for us.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Think of the place you find coziest to sit.
Is it in a comfy chair with a blanket in the winter?
Is it on the beach, cocooned in the warmth of the sun and the sound of the surf?
Wherever it is, see yourself there—and across from you?
Jesus. Sitting, and looking intently at you. Love and concern on His kind face.
Then He begins speaking, in a tender voice and a comforting cadence:
Don’t worry, my dear friend, about your life, or food, or clothing (Matt. 6.25).
We prayed about this already. Remember?
You asked God to provide your daily bread (Matt. 6.11).
Dear one, your life is comprised of far more than bread.
Remember what I said to the devil when he nagged Me about hunger and food?
Man doesn’t live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matt. 4.4).
Indeed, I was hungry. But I knew God would provide for My needs; and
I also know that real life and contentment come from far more that food, clothes, and stuff.
Look at My Father’s beautiful creation, and all His glorious creatures.
As amazing as they are, He cares even more about you—the one created in Our image (Gen. 1.26).
Besides, what will worry accomplish?
It won’t make you taller, or better, or longer living.
In fact, worrying is never helpful.
I don’t even want you to worry about what might happen if you are arrested for your faith and
questioned by people who want to hurt you. Even in those dire circumstances,
the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say (Lk. 12.11, 12).
Troubling your mind about it beforehand is not necessary.
We will All take care of it when it happens.
Remember Joseph?
Everyone was starving, and We used his wisdom to help the people of Egypt.
Then Pharaoh of Egypt invited Joseph’s family to come and live there, where food was plentiful.
Pharaoh told Joseph to tell his large, extended family (Jacob and all his sons and their families),
“Do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours” (Gen. 45.20).
God knows what He is doing. God knows what He can promise, as everything belongs to Him.
He owns the cattle on a thousand hills.
And to boost your confidence, your heavenly Father said,
“The world is Mine, and all its fullness” (Ps. 50.10-12).
This very God, the One you serve, your heavenly Father,
knows that you need the things that you need.
He is the eternal God your refuge, and
underneath you, under all you are and need and do,
are His upholding, never-failing, everlasting arms (Deut. 33.27).
Beloved, don’t worry. You are loved (Jn. 3.16). Trust Me.
Assured by His Words, encouraged in His love, you are free to leave worry behind,
and get busy about telling others of this One Who loves you, and them, so much; and
Who says to all Who belong to Him:
“Don’t worry!”
Reflect.
1. About what kinds of things do you typically worry? List them all.
2. What should you do when you feel yourself slipping into worry (Phil. 4.6, 7)?
3. What can you do to keep worry from robbing you of the joy of your salvation?
Can you add one cubit, or even the slightest measure, to your bodily life span by worrying about it? Can you by being anxious about food add moments to your life? Hence it is clear that it is not our diligence but the providence of God, even where we seem to be active, that finally accompanies everything. John Chrysostom (344-407), The Gospel of Matthew, Homily 21.3
Pray Psalm 104.24-35.
Put before the Lord everything that you might worry about today, and anything that might cause you to be anxious. Then praise Him that He has made all this, rules all this, and is working all things according to the counsel of His will, and for good.
Sing Psalm 104.24-35.
Creation: The Spacious Firmament Above
How many are Your works, O LORD, which You have created by Your Word!
The earth and sea with creatures teem—they look to You to care and feed.
You give to them, they gather all; You hide Your face, they fail and fall.
You take their breath, they gasp and die; You send Your Spirit, they revive.
LORD, let Your glory long endure! Rejoice! His works are ever sure!
He looks on earth, it quails and quakes, as we our songs of praises make.
LORD, let our meditation rise and bring great pleasure in Your eyes.
Consumed shall sinners ever be; O, bless and praise the LORD with me!
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest: This week: The Read Moore podcast continues readings from our book, The Kingdom Turn. Our Crosfigell teaching letter presses ahead in a series on the state of the Church in Europe at the time of the Celtic Revival. The ReVision column looks at people in ministry. Check out our other excellent writers. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
