Lilies
Matthew 6:28-29
Originally scheduled for April 21
A recent addition
to the English language is the phrase, “bucket list.” The concept,
briefly, is that there is a list of things you want to do before you
die. You might list something like climbing Mount Everest, visiting
Tahiti, sailing around the world solo, or seeing the biggest ball of
twine in Minnesota. It is, of course, possible to have more than one
bucket. You might have a sports bucket, a travel bucket, a financial
bucket and who knows what all else. But in particular you may have a
spiritual bucket. It is usually filled with things to worry about.
Other buckets may be filled with things of the flesh (where is the
girl of my dreams?) Or perhaps the things of the world (when do I
get my Mercedes?) Or even the things of pride (I have to have a
bigger fishing boat than my next-door neighbor.) But the spiritual
bucket is filled with worries concerning the faith. I would submit
that the most common worry in the bucket is, “am I really saved?”
You can waste a lot of time staring at the ceiling in the bedroom in
the middle of the night worrying about that one.
So what should
you do about it? First, realize that impatient waiting never changed
the results. Staring at the ceiling isn’t going to help anything
except your insomnia. Asking such a question is evidence that you
are not living a full Christian life.
As Christ
commanded us, consider the lilies of the field. Look at how God
makes them beautiful,
clothing them in glory — and we worry
about what business suit to buy next. May I suggest these steps:
·
Begin by
searching out the providences in your life. Tax your memory; see if
you can draw up those things where you know that God was watching
over you that day. God cares for those he loves; look for and
remember those caring moments.
·
Seek first the
kingdom of God. If your top priority is the kingdom of God, your
Christian life, then how big your fishing boat is just doesn’t come
up to snuff. Put God first and you will see that he will deal with
all your other needs.
·
If that isn’t
enough, look around for those people who are good examples of living
the Christian life. Ask their assistance in helping you to grow in
faith.
Sometimes,
however, we need a “blessed assurance.” For this, God has provided
you with communion. It is a reminder that he has prescribed; a
reassurance that he repeats to you every time you partake of
communion. Let’s look at what it’ s reassuring us about:
·
It is a
reassurance of our salvation.
It reminds us that God’s plan, from the beginning, includes us as
his children.
·
It is a
reassurance of God’s love
for us. The sacrifice made on the cross is the greatest example of
love in human history.
·
It is a
reassurance of our
resurrection. Christ rose from the grave and promises that we
will rise likewise when he returns.
As the psalmist
once said:
I shall remember the deeds of the LORD; Surely I will remember Your
wonders of old. I will meditate on all Your work And muse on Your
deeds.
(Psalms 77:11-12)
Let us remember
what he has done in the past so that we might be confident of what
he will do in the future.
