Daily Reading

Today's reading: Matthew 6:25-7:14, Psalm 8:1-9, Proverbs 2:6-15.

I love today's reading from Matthew - Don't worry, rely on God. Jesus tells us not to worry about our physical needs and not to criticize our neighbor. Interesting that these two things are talked about interchangeably. So often, when we allow ourselves to become worry-warts, we transfer our worry to others. Rather than deal with our own spiritual and emotional needs we fixate on pointing out everyone else's problems, which causes strife and even more anxiety.

Jesus says, "Stop! Don't worry about your physical needs, don't worry about your neighbors shortcomings, focus on your own spiritual health and ask your loving heavenly Father for help."

Then he says two things that are very interesting:
"But your heavenly Father already knows perfectly well that you need them, and he will give them to you if you give him first place in your life and live as he wants you to." Sounds like a condition? It is. Look at it this way - I as a mother know what my children need and I lovingly and willingly supply those needs for them. However, they need to be receptive to taking those things. For example, allergy season is starting and poor Cameron is beginning to cough. This happens every spring & will continue until summer. As his mother, I know that he needs medicine to help him through this time. Cameron, however, does not like the medicine that will be most beneficial to him. He would rather leave the medicine behind & be miserable. Now I can chase him down, force him to take it and deal with his resentment. Or I can let him make his own choice in the matter and let him suffer the consequences. That's God - He's all about free will. He offers us the medicine we need to live a life full of love, joy, and peace. We simply need to choose to take it. That's the condition.

Secondly, Jesus says, "The Gateway to Life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it." That narrow road is Jesus Christ. Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again that everyone who trusts in Him will have eternal life. The world tells us that there are many ways to heaven, Jesus says He is the only one. It's a narrow road, but once you're on that road, God provides everything you need to navigate this life safely. So don't worry, trust in Him.