The Absolute Inability Of Worry To Improve Anything!

Matthew 6:27.        Which of you by taking thought (worrying) can add one cubit unto his stature (height)?

Who says our God isn’t good eh? Well for the third day in a row, my area is bright and sunshiny and fairly warm, and the computer says that temps are going to rise. Wow! It seems that spring is just around the corner, because birds are also chirping in joyful unison, giving thanks to their Creator for life and love! 

And as Jesus so rightly admonishes and encourages: ‘Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for (do not worry about) your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat (food), and the body than raiment (clothing)? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they.’ (Matt. 6:25-26) 

That’s for sure, because we are the ONLY creation made in God’s own image. The Bible tells us that in the Creation story: ‘And God said, Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing. So God made man in his own image, in the image of God created him; male and female created he them.’ (Gen. 1:26-27) 

Yuh see friends, God created us in His own image, that’s a spiritual image, because God is a Spirit, without a body, and Jesus only took on a human body when He came to earth to reveal the Father more fully to us. And please note, that God not only made us in His own image, but also gave us dominion over all the earth. That means we’re supposed to rule the earth in His name. So we can see what Jesus is saying in the scriptures at the beginning is absolutely true; we’re worth much more than the birds of the air. 

Then He continues with His teachings on worry, by saying: ‘Which of you by taking thought (worrying) can add one cubit unto his stature (height)? And why take ye thought for raiment (why do you worry about clothing)? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed (clothed) like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe(s) the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith.’ (Matt. 6:27-30) 

And yuh know what friends, we really can’t find anything wrong with Jesus’ argument. For if the Lord looks after the birds of the air and the lilies of the field, dressing them even more beautifully than Cousin Sol, the richest and wisest man ever, it’s logical that He will look after us, His greatest creation in even better manner. But we’ve got to believe it, before we see it come to pass. 

So Jesus continues: ‘Therefore take no thought (do not worry), saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or,  Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.’ (Matt. 6:31-32) Yes, my fellow believers, our heavenly Father knows we need food and clothing just like His other living creations, but we don’t need to kill ourselves worrying about them. 

Why? Jesus gives us the answer in spades: ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ (Matt. 6:33) That’s the marvellous answer right there my people! If you put God first place in your life, then He will provide for all your needs. And Bruh Paul reiterated Jesus’ words to the Philippians when he wrote: ‘But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.’ (Phil. 4:19) So, if the Son of God and His most learned and zealous apostle say it’s so, then it’s obviously so. (smile) 

Consequently, Jesus ends this message of seeking God first, then depending on Him for all of our needs, with these wise and reassuring words. ‘Take therefore no thought for the morrow (do not worry about tomorrow): for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil (trouble) thereof.’ (Matt. 6:34) Ah mih people, it’s all of what our Lord and Saviour said, so it must be true, because He has no cause to lie. 

And we all know deep down that worry improves nothing, only makes things worse. So, though we must make some basic plans for the future, we need to concentrate more on the individual day that’s in front of us, for everyday has its own problems and challenges, which we need to handle responsibly, without worrying about the hypothetical troubles that could arise in the future.  

And having received God’s saving grace, then we must continue to seek it all of our lives, because the spiritual side of life is in the long run more important than the material side, for when the body dies, the spirit lives on. The problem though, is where will our spirit live on, in eternal life with Christ, or in eternal death with Satan?  And as the scholars say: ‘When our priority is spiritual, God will take care of the material, for where God guides, He provides.’ And that’s the gospel truth! 

So let’s go home now declaring (chuhhh!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. As one strong and sincere voice:  ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead, straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ 

Now hear this: it’s also been promised that if we endure to the end with Jesus, then the future will be even more glorious than we can ever ask or imagine. So please, let’s be wise and stick with Jesus right to the very end nuh! Looking forward to seeing you there! Much LOVE!

…God created us in LOVE…and will provide for all of our needs…if we sincerely return His LOVE…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

Today’s Scrip-Bit 3 May 2016 Joshua 24:14‏

Joshua 24:14.   Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood (The Euphrates River), and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.

Well a good Tuesday morning to all you fellow believers in Jesus Christ! It’s bright and sunny in my neighbourhood, though a tad chilly! But spring’s in the air! Glory Hallelujah! Hope it is encouraging in your area too. 

But just in case it isn’t, please remember that the bright and beautiful, positive and reassuring light of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is ALWAYS shining in and through us, and that helps us to handle the dark and dreary physically challenged days. (smile) That means there’s no need to be down and depressed because of the weather.  

Now here is something from our One Year Book of Bible promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin that I thought was rather appropriate to share, especially in these difficult times of ministry. It’s simply titled ‘Coincidences.’ 

And it says: ‘Lord, I was intrigued With the brilliant vocabulary Of the patient sitting next to me In the reception room. I don’t remember The start of our conversation But suddenly we were discussing prayer. I shared rather freely Your pertinent answers To my day-by-day requests. 

Labelling himself a skeptic He smiled and said courteously “What you consider answered prayer I choose to call coincidence.” 

You know how it is with me, Lord – I’m always slightly at ease In the Big Middle Of a theological discussion. I’m much more at home in my kitchen Mixing muffin batter Or tossing green salads. Frankly I was relieved When the dentist called my name. 

But one thing I do know, Lord When I pray, “coincidences” happen. When I don’t pray they stop… So thank You again and again For ten thousand “coincidences” Always in the nick of time When I pray.’ 

Oh friends what a rather common situation that is amongst believers. We all at times feel rather inadequate to explain our faith and why we pray, and are indeed much happier and more comfortable discussing other topics. 

But despite our inadequacy in explaining that faith, we are convinced that answers to our prayers are certainly not coincidences, but the actual workings of God in our lives. And we’ll go to our graves believing that. 

But if someone else wants to label them ‘coincidences,’ then we’ll very gladly receive them. Like a rose by any other name is just as sweet, so is answered prayer by any other name just as reassuring and encouraging. (smile) 

And the Bible Promise for that poem is Bruh Paul’s admonishment to the Ephesians; one that we all know very well, whether we keep it though is another story. ‘Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.’ (Eph.6:18) Remember my precious people, prayer is indispensable in a Christian’s life. 

Now, since it’s Tuesday, let’s declare our Tuesday Mantra with lots of spunk and plenty conviction. Altogether now: ‘I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world.  Amen.’ 

All praise and glory and might and power to our wonderful God, who LOVED us so much to sacrifice His only Son Jesus Christ on our behalf! So let’s remember, every minute of every day, who and whose we are; beloved children of Almighty God! 

That brings us to our Bit: ‘Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood (The Euphrates River), and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.’ 

And that’s the other side of the coin my fellow Christians! If we consider ourselves children of God, then we must adhere to His Will and Word with sincerity and truth, and consequently revere ONLY Him as our Maker, Provider and Comforter. 

As Jesus told the ole hypocrite Pharisees, when they tried to tempt and confuse Him: ‘Render (pay) therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things which are God’s.’ (Matt.22:21) 

Yes friends, as true believers, that’s how we ought to behave! And things like reverence, supplication, LOVE, care, compassion, wisdom, forgiveness, mercy and grace, ALL belong to the ONE and ONLY TRUE LIVING God; He of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! 

So let’s give Him His rightful due nuh my brethren, and stop worshiping at the altar of sin and the lustful things of the world, which belong to the evil one, the prince of darkness. Let’s stop wallowing in the darkness of evil, and instead fully, gratefully and graciously embrace the LIGHT and LOVE that’s Jesus, and which offer us so much more, especially salvation and eternal life! 

And we’ll end with these wonderful and true words of the Preacher, Cousin Sol, from Ecclesiastes. ‘Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgement, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.’ (Eccl.12:13-14) 

Ah mih breddren, as true believers, that’s our bounden duty right there in a nutshell! Please, let’s wisely follow it as long as there is the breath of God in our bodies nuh. Much LOVE!

…true wisdom is simply…faithfully reverencing God and being obedient to His Word and Will…