Sufficient for the Day is its Own Trouble

“Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” – Matthew 6:34

In the center of our Lord’s wonderful Sermon on the Mount, Jesus cuts open human anxiety before administering mercy like a skillful cardiologist cuts a sick heart before surgically repairing it. We become anxious over things in our life. Food, drink, clothing. Basics of survival. Jesus said, “the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all” (vs 32). God has mercy for His creatures. Birds of the air are gathered by His hands and fed. Unbelievers strive for basic necessities for life, and God still cares for them.

Why do I become anxious? I think Jesus calls me out when He says, “which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his lifespan” (vs. 27)? Our mortal lives are so fragile. What if the things that make life enjoyable are stripped from me? When paycheck-to-paycheck living catches up, and a home or car repair costs more than what is in my checking account, what then? Birds do not have barns, yet God feeds them.

Anxiety does not put food in the pantry, money in the bank, or a minute more to my lifespan. So, I am faced with a decision in the morning: will I take hold of today with anxious fear or with a settled trust in God who values me more than sparrows? What if I hold loosely to my plans in life standing ready to abandon plans with a heart joyful to God’s disruptions rather than anxious (or even angry) that my day will not turn out like I wanted?

We have fragile mortal bodies and live in an unpredictable and doubtful world. I need Christ’s merciful reminder daily that anxiety is more poisonous to my heart than I care to admit. Not only will anxiety drive me to try and control things in my life, I will also view other people with suspicion. Anxiety does not encourage trust in God, only plunders the treasures of joy and peace in my heart. No longer am I trusting God at that moment nor am I pleasant company.

“Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Jesus is right. There are enough troubles today to be worried about. In the morning, I pray for faith to see His mercies anew each morning. Lord, provide the needed mercies sufficient for the unseen troubles of today. “Seek first,” commands my Lord. Whatever loss I have on earth will not compare to enjoying Him in His everlasting Kingdom (II Corinthians 4:17). Even when I die, Christ’s Kingdom, clothing, food, drink, and life will be added to me (vs.33).

Heavenly Father, forgive us when we take our lives into our own weak hands rather than trust in Your able and mighty hands. Apply Your merciful peace to our anxious hearts and give Your people rest. Our lives and homes are in Your trustworthy hands. As we cast our burdens upon You, Lord lift these burdens and grant to us Your grace and peace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Joy to the World

 “Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice.” -Psalm 96:11

A popular song around Christmas time is Isaac Watts’ hymn, “Joy to the World.” Watts wrote this hymn regarding Christ’s second coming, which I do find appropriate to sing at a time remembering our Lord’s first advent. Watts writes, 

Joy to the World; the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her King!

Let ev'ry heart prepare Him room,

And Heaven and nature sing.

The earth will receive her King when Jesus returns, and the heavens will be glad and the earth rejoice, as the Psalmist writes. We groan along with all creation until then (Romans 8:22). This groaning presses our faces to remain looking forward. No matter the levels of comforts and joys delighted in our brief time on earth, no matter the level of strides we make in maturing in Christ in our vapor-like lifetime, our deepest longings each day of our lives is for Jesus to return. For we assured by the rich mercies of our God that our Lord Jesus returns to us, His church, as Redeemer. 

Do you long for Christ’s return, to rejoice and to be glad with all of His Kingly rule in heaven and earth? His rule is as Prince of Peace, breaking the bow of war, crushing the rebellion of sin, and destroying sting of death forever. The history of redemption written by the sovereign hand of God is incomplete until Christ returns to finish His Kingdom. Let us wait we longing.

Isaac Watts’ hymn continues:

 

He rules the world with truth and grace,

And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness,

And wonders of His love

The glories of His perfect righteousness, ruling the nations with His truth and grace, displays for eternity the wonders of His love. Beloved of Christ, remember this glorious truth today and always, no matter the anxieties and pains and joys of your brief life: our loving Bridegroom will return for us to redeem us to enjoy His presence forever.

Heavenly Father, my heart and flesh fail daily, stripping the motivations of obedience, growing weary in doing good. Forgive us, Lord. Strengthen us, Lord. Make us ready for our Savior’s return for His church that Your gospel goes to the nations that the heavens and all the earth rejoice. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Why Christmas?

 "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil." - I John 3:8

Why the Incarnation? Why the Word become flesh? Why Christmas? John tells us why the Son of God appeared: to destroy the works of the devil. The invading Messiah King promised of the house of David came at Christmas and live as our righteousness for Triumphal Entry, Good Friday, Easter, and Ascension to destroy the works of the devil. 

Jesus destroys the works of the devil by taking away our sin (I John 3:5). This is why John writes this letter, that the readers, "little children," do not sin. John delights knowing the children walk in the truth (III John 4). Jesus took the sins of those who believe in Him to the cross. He is our righteousness, making propitiation by His blood (I John 2:2, 4:10). Jesus destroys the works of the devil that we, as little children, would not sin or make a practice of sinning. And, when we do sin, Jesus advocates for us against the devil's work as accuser.

Jesus destroys the works of the devil by forgiveness as well as the power of sin for us. Why Christmas? The Son of God became human like us "that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery" (Hebrews 2:14-15). The Son of God came "to save us all from Satan's power when we were gone astray."

As the angel told the Bethlehem shepherds, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." A Savior! This good news of great joy that Christ the Lord and Savior has come to destroy the works of the devil lent the shepherds to return to their fields "glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen" (Luke 2:20).

Dear reader, Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. This is good news of great joy! Rest your sinful heart upon Christ who is the righteous King. The power of the devil's works in the hearts of the sons of disobedience is no match for Christ who takes those dead in sins and trespasses into new life (Ephesians 2:1-2). Born in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!

The Sweet, Precious Words of Jesus

“More to be desired are [the words of the Lord] than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.” -Psalm 19:10

Some handle the Bible as simply a book of facts. The stories are real and there are moral nuggets to extrapolate, but the Bible’s worth ends there. Others handle the Bible as only a book of life application. Its only value being found in how I am to live…or want to live. Both of these blurry lenses to view God’s Word are removed in this one verse in the Psalms.

For the worshiper of God, the Word of God is desirable. The law, testimony, precepts, commandments, fear of the Lord, and rules found in the Bible as described in the previous verses are more precious and valuable than pure gold, sweeter than fresh drippings of honey from a honeycomb. This Psalm isn’t sung by someone simply wanting cold, hard facts from God or simply wanting a life application and motivational speech from God. This is sung by someone who read the Bible as God revealing Himself to be utterly glorious as well as a God to be delighted in.

Sin and affliction do not make my heart glad. No matter how much I invest in myself from either of these two human experiences, no matter how much I praise or justify sinfulness, my heart is not glad. Gladness of heart comes from the reality of this Psalm. To deeply desire God’s voice, the voice of our Good Shepherd upon the narrow road, the lamp unto our feet. To find God’s Word as sweet and enjoyable. 

This is enjoyed by a sinner forgiven, yes. Deeper still, this is enjoyed by a prodigal son welcomed home by the father and into a celebration (Luke 15:11-32). This is enjoyed by the principled self-righteous persecutor Saul of Tarsus when the resurrected Jesus knocked him down (Acts 9). In this I enjoy God’s Word, as a prideful, ugly sinner who once thought I could out-think Christianity and exceed in truth and morality greater than the teachings of Christ and His followers.

How did Jesus’ words become so sweet and so precious to me? Jesus Himself became sweet and precious to me. The Bible didn’t simply show me facts or how to live. The Bible shows me Christ.

How sweet and precious Jesus is to me. Even when following the voice of my Good Shepherd leads to pain, my heart confesses Peter’s response, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). Sweet, precious words of eternal life. In my foolishness, I am prone to wander. His Word restores my life (Psalm 119:107). In my sadness and terrors of the night, His Word leads me to the Rock of my salvation (Psalm 62:1-2). In my fears, His Word reminds me He is beside me and I may sleep and wake again (Psalm 3:5-6).

His Word no longer condemns me as a criminal of His law, for I, even a sinner as I, belong to Christ (Romans 8:1). The pure law of God with its perfect precepts and rules I have broken was faithfully and perfectly obeyed by Christ (Philippians 2:8). My precious, sweet Savior is my righteousness before God. My blind eyes are opened, my deaf ears can hear, but my Lord who speaks the words of eternal life.

I plead with you to hear the precious, sweet words of the Lord Jesus Christ, these words of eternal life, and follow the Good Shepherd. You are not too great a sinner, too disheartened, or too self-righteous and intelligent for the only wise King Jesus to rescue from the wrath of God. Hear His precious, sweet words of eternal life and follow Him.

Heavenly Father, my prayer to You is for the readers to know You, to hear Your perfect law and discover the preciousness and sweetness of the words of our Lord! Open their ears to hear Christ’s words of eternal life and follow. You are altogether lovely and glorious, a God of great works worthy of eternal praise. Hallelujah to our great God and Savior! In Jesus’ name. Amen.