Luke 12:25–34 (ESV)
Do Not Be Anxious (Part 2)
25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet
I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29 And do not
seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. 30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure
in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
I repeated verse 25 today to start off today’s reading
by asking a relevant question. “Which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” Being anxious and worrying about things actually shortens your life through unneeded stress. I think we need to trust God
more and worry less. Let God be God. Luther writes about this in his Small Catechism in the First Article of the Apostle’s Creed.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and
earth.
What does this mean?
Answer: I believe that God has made me and all creatures. He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my limbs, my reason, and all my
senses, and still preserves them. In addition, He has given me clothing and shoes, meat and drink, house and home, wife and children, fields, cattle, and all my goods. He provides me richly and daily with all that I need to support this body and life. He protects
me from all danger and guards me and preserves me from all evil. He does all this out of pure, fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this I ought to thank Him, praise Him, serve Him, and obey Him. This is most
certainly true.
I pray: O Lord, help me to “believe” in God, te Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. Help me to trust that you will provide for all my needs, which is different
from wants. Help me to seek your will and not mine. To you I give thanks and praise and I pray that I serve you and obey you in all that I do. I thank you for your forgiveness when I fall short and succumb to be anxious or worrying.
Amen.