Rich wrote this devotion as a personal reflection on the state of the culture in 2010.
Don't Worry
"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? Look 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? - Matthew 6:25-26
Don’t Worry – how easy is that?
Let’s see, we have the Federal government suing the state of Arizona in order to stop them from enforcing a state law, we have the state of Louisiana suing the Federal government in order to stop them from enforcing a law, we have the county suing the city over enforcement of traffic cams and on it goes. In addition to governments suing each other we have entire businesses built around the practice of suing drug manufactures. Our TV sets shout out the claims of each lawyer telling us that if we have ever had an unpronounceable disease, we are entitled to lots of money.
Then there is the environment! Oil is gushing out of broken wells, record heat is cooking the east coast, polar ice is melting, and earthquakes, volcanoes and hurricanes destroy property and lives. Despite everything we may do, thousands of gallons of raw sewage still flow into the Mississippi after prolonged rainfalls.
Our health care system is being threatened as special interest groups design legislation passed by politicians who exempt themselves from the system. Our health insurance is threatened or protected, depending on who is speaking. Hospitals are closing while others are expanding. Emergency room waits are longer than ever as ER personal are cut back and laid off.
What about society? Every day we hear news reports of shootings, robberies, abductions and road rage. We read how our country is no longer a Christian nation and we are living in a “Post-church” society where the church has lost relevance and influence. Christians are being attacked by the media, Muslims and our neighbors. Around the world Christian martyrs are being killed for their faith. Our children turn from the church while our grandchildren look for something permanent and true. Our family structure has deteriorated to the point we have no common definition for family. We can’t even agree on the definition of marriage – a man and a woman, a man and a man, or a woman and a woman. “Life Partners” demand and have secured benefits once reserved just for spouses. We are surrounded by rising costs, a run-away national debt, layoffs, unemployment and a housing crisis.
"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? Look 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?
That is the Good News! Jesus tells us that we do not have to worry – not about our life, not about our food, our clothes, our house, our job, our future! He points us to the birds – they don’t worry and have everything they need for their life! God cares for them – He cares for us.
In spite of the state of our government, our environment, our health care system, our society – God has us in the palm of His hand. He sends His Holy Angels to surround us, no evil will befall us. He has promised and secured a place of eternal love for us and nothing can separate us from His love. Sometimes when the devil attacks us with the doom and gloom of the world, we need to keep our eyes focused on the cross and the eternity it has purchased for us.
Heavenly Father,
You open Your hands and give to us all that we need for this life – and more. Thank you. We confess that sometimes we get so caught up in the bad news of this world that we forget the Good News – please forgive us. Thank You for giving us our savior Jesus.
Lord, we ask that you would use us as Your voice, hands and feet to the lonely, the hurting, the forgotten and those that need to hear the Good News.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
Don’t Worry – how easy is that?
Let’s see, we have the Federal government suing the state of Arizona in order to stop them from enforcing a state law, we have the state of Louisiana suing the Federal government in order to stop them from enforcing a law, we have the county suing the city over enforcement of traffic cams and on it goes. In addition to governments suing each other we have entire businesses built around the practice of suing drug manufactures. Our TV sets shout out the claims of each lawyer telling us that if we have ever had an unpronounceable disease, we are entitled to lots of money.
Then there is the environment! Oil is gushing out of broken wells, record heat is cooking the east coast, polar ice is melting, and earthquakes, volcanoes and hurricanes destroy property and lives. Despite everything we may do, thousands of gallons of raw sewage still flow into the Mississippi after prolonged rainfalls.
Our health care system is being threatened as special interest groups design legislation passed by politicians who exempt themselves from the system. Our health insurance is threatened or protected, depending on who is speaking. Hospitals are closing while others are expanding. Emergency room waits are longer than ever as ER personal are cut back and laid off.
What about society? Every day we hear news reports of shootings, robberies, abductions and road rage. We read how our country is no longer a Christian nation and we are living in a “Post-church” society where the church has lost relevance and influence. Christians are being attacked by the media, Muslims and our neighbors. Around the world Christian martyrs are being killed for their faith. Our children turn from the church while our grandchildren look for something permanent and true. Our family structure has deteriorated to the point we have no common definition for family. We can’t even agree on the definition of marriage – a man and a woman, a man and a man, or a woman and a woman. “Life Partners” demand and have secured benefits once reserved just for spouses. We are surrounded by rising costs, a run-away national debt, layoffs, unemployment and a housing crisis.
"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? Look 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?
That is the Good News! Jesus tells us that we do not have to worry – not about our life, not about our food, our clothes, our house, our job, our future! He points us to the birds – they don’t worry and have everything they need for their life! God cares for them – He cares for us.
In spite of the state of our government, our environment, our health care system, our society – God has us in the palm of His hand. He sends His Holy Angels to surround us, no evil will befall us. He has promised and secured a place of eternal love for us and nothing can separate us from His love. Sometimes when the devil attacks us with the doom and gloom of the world, we need to keep our eyes focused on the cross and the eternity it has purchased for us.
Heavenly Father,
You open Your hands and give to us all that we need for this life – and more. Thank you. We confess that sometimes we get so caught up in the bad news of this world that we forget the Good News – please forgive us. Thank You for giving us our savior Jesus.
Lord, we ask that you would use us as Your voice, hands and feet to the lonely, the hurting, the forgotten and those that need to hear the Good News.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
