In Matthew 6, Jesus continued His sermon on the mount and addressed the issue of doubt, worry, and fear. He said, consider the lilies of the field and the fowls of the air. They toil not neither do they spin, yet Solomon in all of his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If he so clothed the birds of the air and the flowers of the field, will He not much more take care of you, O ye of little faith?
This week, Michael writes that people of little of faith are like children; they fear the deep end of the pool. They have not learned to trust in the Lord with all their hearts and lean not unto their own understanding. Jesus said, What’s different between you Children of Israel and the Gentiles … the heathen who have no relationship with God? They worry about the cares and the affairs of this “live in the moment” existential world. What makes you different from them? Jesus said, I’ll give you the resources you will need, but you will use these blessings to bless others by working with your hands from a heart of love to accomplish the purpose for which I have prepared you. In so doing, set your affections on things above and seek ye first the kingdom of God. God will be your sufficiency for blessing you and your family as you use the resources to your heavenly Father’s glory. Don’t worry about having your needs met … God will bless and abound the work of your hands if you set your eyes unto Jesus. Therefore, Seek not worldly treasures. Instead, seek treasures in Heaven and not upon earth, then when you seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, all these physical things which align with His desires shall be added unto you.
Most people who consider themselves Christians have no passion, zeal, and fervor for the things of God. They keep their light of Christ hidden under a bushel basket. Faith is a muscle that needs to be exercised. Galatians says, neither circumcision (the keeping of the Old Testament law) nor uncircumcision (the ways of the pagan gentiles) availed anything. As Solomon said in Ecclesiastes, everything upon this earth that is done for our own vain purposes will come to naught. Galatians 5 says, the only thing that really matters is “believing faith” that worketh in love. Love activates, energizes, invigorates and exercises the faith-muscle that appropriates God’s blessings into fruition. Therefore, be not weary in well doing … God will sustain your effort. Then in patiently working, God gives the blessing at the time of harvest.
Our Heavenly Father is intimately acquainted with all of our ways. He numbers each hair on our head. Wherever we go, God is there; He sees all and is ever present. Therefore, King David said, search me and know my heart… test my anxious thoughts. Create in me a clean heart, O Lord… a heart dedicated to you… and lead me into the way everlasting. As we look at the fallen secular world around us, as the lyric from The Music Man says, “there’s trouble in River City.” There is strife, contention, chaos, and confusion all around us. The devil is up to his old tricks. And his job is to divide and conquer. Ultimately, his purpose is to separate our hearts from God’s heart. To look at the world we’ll be stressed. To look at others we’ll be distressed. To look in the mirror, we’ll be depressed. However, to look unto Jesus, we’ll be blessed. Therefore, turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.
Let's continue Michael's message on faith in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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