Overheard in an Orchard
Said the Robin to the Sparrow,
"I should really like to know
Why these anxious human beings
Rush about and hurry so."
Said the Sparrow to the Robin,
"Friend, I think that it must be
That they have no Heavenly Father
Such as cares for you and me."
-- Elizabeth Cheney
Said the Robin to the Sparrow,
"I should really like to know
Why these anxious human beings
Rush about and hurry so."
Said the Sparrow to the Robin,
"Friend, I think that it must be
That they have no Heavenly Father
Such as cares for you and me."
-- Elizabeth Cheney
When I happened across this poem, I had to stop and think. You know, it wouldn't be too far of a stretch to imagine what God's creation would say to us Christians. After all, God's Son came to earth in the flesh of a human. He lived as we lived, felt as we felt. He wasn't what we would generally consider "handsome." He would probably appear to have more in common with a homeless man than with most of us "Christ Followers." He wore no regal crown, he carried no great wealth. He taught us that, if we wanted to be of importance in heaven, we should strive to be servants on earth. And, He led by example in all things.
He lived a sinless life, and was put to death by the religious rulers of the day. He did all this so that, by the spilling of His perfect blood, our sins could be paid for in the sight of YHWH. He did all the work, He paid all the price. He took up His life after three days, and returned to heaven to prepare a place for each of His people. He sent the Holy Spirit to look after us, to teach us and to comfort us. He has promised us that He will be with us always, that no temptation will confront us that He won't provide us a way to overcome. And when it is all said and done, He has crowns and rewards awaiting us when we arrive in heaven, even though He has made everything good to happen for us!
And yet, we try to deny Him. How, you may ask? Well, let's look at a piece of Scripture:
He lived a sinless life, and was put to death by the religious rulers of the day. He did all this so that, by the spilling of His perfect blood, our sins could be paid for in the sight of YHWH. He did all the work, He paid all the price. He took up His life after three days, and returned to heaven to prepare a place for each of His people. He sent the Holy Spirit to look after us, to teach us and to comfort us. He has promised us that He will be with us always, that no temptation will confront us that He won't provide us a way to overcome. And when it is all said and done, He has crowns and rewards awaiting us when we arrive in heaven, even though He has made everything good to happen for us!
And yet, we try to deny Him. How, you may ask? Well, let's look at a piece of Scripture:
"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for 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, and the body than raiment? 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? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? 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 like one of these."
Matt. 6:25-29
Matt. 6:25-29
Was Jesus just talking to hear His head rattle? I don't think so! So, if He had a reason to say this, would it seem likely that it was for those of us that profess to follow Him?
I'm not saying that worry is sinful. It isn't, provided it doesn't become the focus of our minds. A little worry is the natural result of a person being put into a position or situation they don't feel comfortable experiencing. It's sort of like the first time you saw the movie "Jaws", and that music went from soft and menacing to loud and frantic, and the teeth filled the screen, and you jumped. But, that fear went away as you dealt with the situation. If it didn't you probably went on to have an unrealistic fear of the ocean.
The same applies to our daily lives. Jesus has said that our needs will be looked after by God. Food, drink, clothing...everything we need to get by daily will be provided in accordance with God's perfect will.
When the unexpected happens, it's OK to feel worry--for a bit. That "bit" should be just about the length of time it takes to pray for the guidance and strength to deal with the situation. Then, we should again rest in the promise of Jesus.
When we hang on to the worry, and we make a nest for ourselves in the fear and anxiety, we are dangerously close to denying the Lordship of Jesus. We are not allowed to keep such things. Jesus knew that to do so would create a divide between the person and the Savior. He tells us more of this as we continue to read....
I'm not saying that worry is sinful. It isn't, provided it doesn't become the focus of our minds. A little worry is the natural result of a person being put into a position or situation they don't feel comfortable experiencing. It's sort of like the first time you saw the movie "Jaws", and that music went from soft and menacing to loud and frantic, and the teeth filled the screen, and you jumped. But, that fear went away as you dealt with the situation. If it didn't you probably went on to have an unrealistic fear of the ocean.
The same applies to our daily lives. Jesus has said that our needs will be looked after by God. Food, drink, clothing...everything we need to get by daily will be provided in accordance with God's perfect will.
When the unexpected happens, it's OK to feel worry--for a bit. That "bit" should be just about the length of time it takes to pray for the guidance and strength to deal with the situation. Then, we should again rest in the promise of Jesus.
When we hang on to the worry, and we make a nest for ourselves in the fear and anxiety, we are dangerously close to denying the Lordship of Jesus. We are not allowed to keep such things. Jesus knew that to do so would create a divide between the person and the Savior. He tells us more of this as we continue to read....
"Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, [shall he] not much more [clothe] you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, 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. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day [is] the evil thereof."
Matt. 6:30-34
Matt. 6:30-34
Jesus tells us that God our Father KNOWS we need these things of life. Everyone needs food, drink, clothing...Jew, Gentile, Christian. But, if we do just one thing, all these things will be provided.
Seek ye first the kingdom of God!
As long as we pursue Jesus, as long as we follow the direction of the Holy Spirit, as long as we aim for the kingdom of God, we shall have all our needs met. And, in those times where we don't get food, or drink, or clothing, we can rest assured that it is because God is providing something even bigger and better for us! God will never let is down--He will only raise us higher than what we were prepared for.
As a final cap to this, Jesus told us to not even worry about tomorrow. Each day's evil is more than enough to deal with without having to shovel more onto our plates. This doesn't mean not to make plans. It just means to understand that each day is a special, one-of-a-kind gift from a loving Father to a special child. Don't waste the gift by fretting over yesterday. Don't spoil the gift by ignoring it in favor of the one tomorrow (which may never come.)
Let me leave you with these words from James 4:15....
As a final cap to this, Jesus told us to not even worry about tomorrow. Each day's evil is more than enough to deal with without having to shovel more onto our plates. This doesn't mean not to make plans. It just means to understand that each day is a special, one-of-a-kind gift from a loving Father to a special child. Don't waste the gift by fretting over yesterday. Don't spoil the gift by ignoring it in favor of the one tomorrow (which may never come.)
Let me leave you with these words from James 4:15....
"For that ye [ought] to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that."
Live each day as the Lord's will allows. Treat the day, and yourself, as the special, beloved child of God. Accept the brief bout of worry for what it is, then prayerfully hand it over to Jesus.
Overheard in an Orchard - Part 2
Said the Robin to the Sparrow,
"I should really like to know
Why these human are no longer
Rushing 'bout, to and fro."
Said the Sparrow to the Robin,
"Friend, I think that you should know
That they HAVE a Heavenly Father
Such as cares so much it shows."
Said the Robin to the Sparrow,
"I should really like to know
Why these human are no longer
Rushing 'bout, to and fro."
Said the Sparrow to the Robin,
"Friend, I think that you should know
That they HAVE a Heavenly Father
Such as cares so much it shows."
Grace and Peace....
