Sunday Devotional

Dachshunds are bred hunters, but Max has never had to “hunt” for food a day in his life. Every morning, he heads to his food bowl where he knows he’ll find plenty of sustenance to carry him through the day. I doubt he worries whether or not the food will be there every morning. He assumes that it will, and believe me, he let’s me know if there wasn’t enough. He comes to my side, stares up at my face, and waits patiently until I get the idea: “Feed me. I’m hungry.” And of course, I do, because he’s depending on me.

God is so much more careful than I am. Not once has He forgotten to provide for one of His servants, so why do I worry about whether or not He’ll give me everything I need to take care of my family? Is it that I have not fully learned to trust Him? Is it that I do not believe He could love me enough to take care of me from day to day?

Unfortunately, I think it’s a combination of both, and no matter how many times I tell myself that God loves me, sin and all, I’m still afraid that one day, God will decide I’m not worthy of His love and watch care.

And therein lies my problem.

You see it’s not my worthiness that determines whether or not God will provide for me…it’s God’s character, His nature, His faithfulness. And I’m so glad.

Matthew 6:25-34 (New International Version)

Do Not Worry

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.