I have to admit, I am spoiled rotten. No, not talking about being the firstborn of
my father, or being the only child of my mother. I am talking about how my God Jesus Christ,
treats me. Not what He did for me all
those years ago at Calvary, but what He does for me right now, throughout the
course of my life. Let me offer just one
example; finding a parking spot. These
days I need and have the blue disability placard, so you would think finding a
parking spot would always be a thing of ease.
It’s not, at least not because of the blue card. But finding parking is not something I have
ever had to worry about in all the years I have been driving.
My God’s love for me is so thorough, and unique, that He
showers me with blessings I don’t really even need. Whenever I used to go out (pre-covid),
anywhere I go, whenever I arrive, there is ALWAYS someone else pulling out of a
parking spot just as I pull up, allowing me to park close to the entrance,
without having to circle around endlessly looking for somewhere to park at
all. The place can be packed, but I
never worry about it. When I get there,
I park. Almost immediately, nearly
always up front, with no wait, no fuss, no worry. In fact, having the disability placard now, I
often find those spots are already full, but for me this is still not a
problem. Now you could say I have “good
luck”. Getting this to happen even more
than not, would be good luck. But every time? That is a statistical anomaly that is quite
frankly, impossible. But it is also my
life’s experience, for decades and decades.
I’m sure there are some that will just call me liar on this, as it
sounds just too impossible to be true.
And I would agree that it is indeed impossible; that is how I know every
time it happens, it is that real-world manifestation of Jesus’ love for me,
that no other explanation would satisfy.
Since I have lived this, I know it to be true. His love is more generous than my need.
But who cares about parking spots, that is trivial in the
scheme of things. OK, so let’s talk
about food, housing, and employment. I am
also, let’s see how should I put this; far from skinny. I used to be skinny when I was growing up. My metabolism was so fast, I could consume 2
large pan pizza’s at Pizza Hut all by myself and not even feel full. Never gain an ounce of weight. Now if I “look” at pizza, I feel myself
putting on the pounds. So there’s
that. But heavy people like me don’t
reflect a steady lack of food, they reflect a steady abundance of it. At this age, if I eat two meals a day, I gain
weight, plain and simple. If I eat one
meal a day, I maintain or lose weight.
So one glance at me, and you realize I don’t go too many days where I
eat nothing at all. In fact, I cannot
remember a day when I had nothing to eat at all. I have been hungry, but there was always
something around to eat. Who do I credit
with feeding me my whole life? You
guessed it, Jesus does. Not just beans
and rice, or bread and water, but full on nutritious meals with fresh vegetables,
fruits (that I largely ignore), and meats (of the clean variety). To eat your entire life, to know your
children never missed a meal, is not an accident, or a stroke of luck, or even the
result of hard work – it is Jesus, and He alone.
But eating and driving can’t happen without funding
right? So where does the money come
from, and has it always been around.
Quick answer, No. Money has not
always been around. When it was around,
it was from employment (and blessings). You
would think I have always worked and done fairly well. But that isn’t quite right either. I have worked, from the lowest paid positions
everyone can identify with, to the top of the food chain (so to speak). I have made just over minimum wage to earning
mid-six-figures in a single year. One
year, I made more than a million dollars (with stock options I cashed in); and
at the opposite extreme I once had no money at all. So while I have always seemed to find “good”
positions. Do you imagine for a minute
that was me? It’s not. It was my Jesus holding me in the palm of His
hand, whether rich in the eyes of men, or so dirt poor I should have been
homeless. Still always finding rest
under a roof (I would never earn, or deserve, but be gifted). In summary, the care of me, of my family, has
always been accomplished by the same Jesus, I call Lord. Though I am not a righteous man, still He has
never forsaken me, and gathers me under His wings, and provides for my every
need, then exceeds my needs with blessings too great to count. This has been the experience of my life. It is my testimony, but in spiritual matters,
there is so much more to tell.
However it is your life that Jesus was interested in talking
about so so many years ago. Luke records
the very words of Jesus Himself in matters of how God feels about you, and
about what God is offering you for the taking, and the trusting. It picks up in chapter 12 of Luke’s letter
beginning in verse 22 saying … “And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say
unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the
body, what ye shall put on. [verse 23] The life is more than meat, and the body
is more than raiment.” Take no
thought. Imagine that for a minute. Jesus offers you and I a way to live that is
completely without worry and completely full of trust. Food is on the menu. Clothing will be on your body. For your life is worth more than any food,
and your body worth more than any clothing.
So why would Jesus tell you, not to worry about these key ingredients of
survival? Because your life, your
survival is in the palm of His hand. And
your death, when or if it ever comes, is but a momentary nap in the timespan of
eternity. You will wake from it as if no
time has passed, and your life from that moment forward will continue to be in
the same palm it always was. Throughout
the eons of time, it is God, that will guard your life. It is God that will enable your life, your
food, and your clothing (even if made out of light from then on). God taking care of you is not supposed to be
a foreign concept, it is supposed to be both real, and everlasting.
Jesus continues in verse 24 saying … “Consider the ravens:
for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God
feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?” Then Jesus gives us a tangible example of
this. Think about how all of creation
survives. Do you think it is an accident? No, it is ordered. The mechanisms are largely known to us. But that says nothing of the care. When you encounter a small bird, or animal in
distress, crying and in pain – what is your response? Do you walk away thinking to yourself, well
who cares about that bird, or small creature?
Or rather, is your heart moved, and you want to help, even if you don’t
know exactly how to help. If you and I
who are far from perfect can still care about the creatures in our lives, how
much more can our God in heaven, our very Father, feel more intensely about
us. He does not wait for us to be in
pain. He tries to help us learn how to
avoid all pain. He knows we get
hungry. He made us that way. He knows birds need to eat, and He also knows
you and I do too. (Me probably a little
less in that regard). So He takes
measures to see that we eat. Offering us
choices in the process. Offering us the gift
of taste in the process. Offering us the
means to eat for at least today. And
when you think about it, today’s meal, this meal, is all I really need. Tomorrow, I can trust to Him, will take care
of itself.
Jesus continues in verse 25 saying … “And which of you with
taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? [verse 26] If ye then be not
able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?” And here is the difference in how we think
and what our limitations are, and how God thinks who knows no limitations at
all. Jesus asks us, if we are unable to
make ourselves taller, why do we worry about the rest of our lives. Growing taller is so incredibly easy from God’s
perspective. But God did not intend a
world full of giants, nor a world full of the opposite of that. The same God who makes the elephants, also
makes the ants. God enjoys diversity,
even though He could have made every creature the same size if He wanted
to. He didn’t. He wanted differences in every one of our
characteristics, and personalities. And
He wants to know each of us in as unique a manner as we are unique from each
other. What is common between you and I,
is that God loves each of us so much, He would lay down His very life, to see
us reconciled to Himself. If He loves
you and I that much, why are sweating the small stuff?
Jesus continues again in verse 27 saying … “Consider the
lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you,
that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. [verse 28] If
then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and tomorrow is
cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?” Then Jesus takes it up a notch. Jesus introduces us to the idea of beauty. The flowers, lilies that is, are
beautiful. If you ask me, every flower
is beautiful. But why? Green grass is sufficient to cover the
ground. You don’t “need” flowers in nature. If they never existed we would be missing out
on tremendous beauty. But they do
exist. Not just for God’s enjoyment, but
for ours. God made that beauty for us to
enjoy. He wants you to smell them. To see them, even though they may not last very
long. While they do, they are
incredible. In the eyes of Jesus, you
are that beauty. How you are adorned, is
not just in the bare necessities, but in God’s ideas of beauty. It could be very simple, or very
elegant. But you are beauty that God
sees (not so much what you are wearing).
Jesus continues in verse 29 saying … “And seek not ye what
ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. [verse 30]
For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father
knoweth that ye have need of these things. [verse 31] But rather seek ye the
kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.” With a singular purpose of mind, to seek our
Lord Jesus Christ, in everything we think about, in how we love each other, in
what our feet take us to do – let that occupy our minds. And our God will sweat the small stuff for
us. I have learned not to worry about
food, or shelter, or parking. Cause
Jesus always provides that stuff. Not
because I beg Him to. And not just the
bare minimum for me to survive. But huge
abundant gifts, so large, I barely have capacity to receive them. Because it pleases Him to love me like
that. And I am no special child of His,
I am just like you in that regard in every way.
Taking the stress out of life, is an awesome experience to live through. Its not to say everything is always peachy. But it is to say even in the thunderstorms,
God still holds you right in the palm of His hand.
So taking care of us is squarely the duty, the responsibility,
and the pleasure of our heavenly Father.
It is He who preserves our lives and makes them interesting (in good
ways). But what about our salvation? Even if I do not worry about eating, shouldn’t
I be worrying about getting rid of all this crap in my life? Jesus concludes with a simple verse to sum up
that area of your life as well. Jesus
continues in verse 32 saying … “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's
good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” You
are not saved because you earn it. Or
based on what you do, or think you do.
You are saved because it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. Jesus starts that very thought out with the
specific admonition – “Fear not”. Stop
worrying and trust. If you want to do
something, then trust. If you are not
content to do nothing, then trust. Trust
Jesus to save you. Trust Him to change
how you think, what you want, and therefore what you do. Trust Jesus to change how you love
others. That is the very basis of
salvation. It is way more important than
parking spots, but no less, an evidence of His love. What Jesus does for you on your journey to
His Kingdom, is not an accident, it is by the very intent of His Father. Saving you makes God the Father happy. Imagine that, a happy God, from cleaning up
the mess of your life. Not an angry God,
or vengeful God, or God who cant wait to judge you – but a God who has already
judged you, condemned your sin, paid the price of your sentence Himself, and is
now HAPPY to see you saved and reconciled back to Himself. Happy about it. So if our God is happy about saving you, why do
you keep sweating the small stuff? Why don’t
you open up the happy valve, and join your God?
He’s waiting. And He is happy about
it.
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