WATCHWORD:
22-24 He continued this subject with his disciples. “Don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or if the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your inner life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the ravens, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, carefree in the care of God. And you count far more. 25-28 “Has anyone by fussing before the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? If fussing can’t even do that, why fuss at all? Walk into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They don’t fuss with their appearance—but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. If God gives such attention to the wildflowers, most of them never even seen, don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? 29-32 “What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don’t be afraid of missing out. You’re my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself. Luke 12:22-32
Meditation:
Reprise – Our Failures?
Jesus is not praying for us in our success! He is praying for us in our failures! Wow. What a statement!
Do you believe that? Jesus is rejoicing in the success He sees in our lives, which is different than the success we may aspire to, and the success He sees in us does not surprise Him. He has equipped us for that success, He has foreordained that we would succeed. So, in our equipping and in the foreordaining, He has set the stage for what would follow…our success through His will.
Now, what about our stumbles, those times when we ‘pass by on the other side’, or did not respond to the ‘least of these my brothers’? Why would Jesus pray for our failures? He is not praying for our failures, He is praying for us, that next time when confronted with need, or service, or outreach, we would be like the Good Samaritan, that we would not lose heart, that we would draw ever closer to Him. When that happens, we see through eyes are opened to His will for success.
I like the image of Jesus smiling at the track of our lives, being His hands, voice and minds. I like to think that Jesus is pleased that parables of His lessons found fertile soil in our lives. That we would scatter seeds by our words, our actions, our sacrifices, but mostly by our love.
Since we are Children of God, here is a children’s story, with a moral:
One day the puppy took a walk around Master’s farm. When he came to the pen where the horse was fed, the great animal called to him. “You must be new here. You will soon find that the master loves me more than all the other animals because I carry large burdens for him. An animal your size has no value to him at all.”
The cow, in the adjoining stall cried out, “not so, I have the most honored position on the farm because the lady makes butter and cheese from buy milk. You, little one, provide nothing of value to the family.”
The sheep called out, no one has greater position than mine. I lend the master wool for his clothes and I provide warmth for the entire family. But, I agree, you, little dog, gives nothing to the family.
One by one, the animals joined the conversation, how they were honored on the farm. Stunned by all the criticism, the puppy found a secluded place and began to cry. An old dog heard the sobs, listened to the story of the little one and agreed that he was too small to pull the wagon, and could not produce eggs, cheese, milk or wool. But, he instructed, it was foolish to cry about what you cannot do. The creator has gifted you, talents that bring laughter and cheer. You will find value and a use for those gifts.
That night when the master came home exhausted from long hours in the hot sun, the puppy ran to him, licked his feet and jumped into his arms, falling to the ground the master and the puppy romped in the grass. Finally, holding him close to his chest and petting his head, the master said “no matter how tired I am when I get home I feel better when you greet me. I wouldn’t trade you for all the animals on the farm.”
So, what are we foreordained to accomplish in our lives? How are we using the gifts and graces each day to achieve what God lays before us? Even when we fall short, He is there. When we succeed, He rejoices with us, and, in effect, says ‘I love you and wouldn’t trade you…’
I like this statement I read in a Jesus Calling: “Who is in charge of your life? If it is you, then you have good reason to worry. But if it is I, then worry is both unnecessary and counterproductive.”
Can we say it all together? God is in charge of my life, and He loves me! Amen.
Bulletin Board:
Today’s Meditation was originally posted more than a year ago, but it seemed to speak to our times and our stresses.
Closing Prayer:
Pray Romans 13:8 — Pray that the Lord will help you to pay all your debts except the debt of love for others — never finish paying that! For if you love them, you will be obeying all of God’s laws, fulfilling all his requirements. Amen.
