For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.
Luke 12:23
Do you love clothes? Maybe you like having the best shoes or having everyone compliment your new outfit.
There’s nothing wrong with having great clothes, or eating tasty food. In fact, God likes that we enjoy life.
But when we let our focus be only on wearing the right thing and eating great stuff, we’ve missed the point.
Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.
Luke 12:22
There are so many things to worry about. It could be how you’re going to get into college. Maybe you’re concerned about your friends will think of you.
It’s so easy to let all the things around us make us upset and worried. Jesus challenged his disciples to not worry.
That’s easy to say. Don’t worry. But how do you really do it? Especially when you have every reason to worry.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:29
Today’s verse is a challenge. It talks about us taking responsibility for what we say. It’s not up to God to watch what comes out of your mouth, or stop you when you’re about to say something bad. Today’s verse implies that this is our responsibility. It’s up to us to guard the words we speak.
We shouldn’t be letting any thought or feeling just fly out of our mouths. Instead, we should pay attention to what we speak and choose to speak life-giving words.
For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
1 Corinthians 3:9
You’re not working alone to accomplish the things God has for your life. You’re working with him and other Christians to bring them to pass. Most importantly, He’s working in you. The two of you are a team. So don’t feel overwhelmed with the idea of following God’s plan. God is working together with you to bring it to pass. You don’t have to do it all on your own.
If you’ll do your part and obey what God is calling you to do, then step by step His plan will become more obvious to you. Stay connected with God. Keep reaching out to Him and getting His thoughts on the next steps to take. As you get close to God, He will help you walk out the plan He has for your life.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27
Today’s verse gives us some insight into how God wants us to view trouble. In the middle of trouble and difficulty, Jesus said He would leave us peace. That means that no matter how crazy what you’re going through may seem, we can do it walking in God’s peace.
Even in those times when it seems like nothing in the world is right, we can still walk in peace. We can be confident that God is good. Because we have that knowledge, we know that regardless of circumstances and situations, we can walk in God’s peace.
Today, if you’ve allowed your heart to become troubled and afraid, determine to put an end to it. Decide that from today on, you’re going to walk in the peace of God. Choose peace, even when it’s hard. After all, Jesus came to bring peace to your life!
For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:19
A lot of the time, we often view people who are not Christians as outsiders. We think that we are forgiven and they are not.
However, according to this verse, we are very much the same. God is not counting our sins against us or them. The difference is that we know it already and have chosen to receive it. God has given us the wonderful privilege of explaining this great news to others. That’s why it’s called the good news.
Today, thank God for reconciling you through Jesus and forgiving you of all your sins. Look for opportunities today to share this good news with someone that doesn’t know it.
Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long;
Matthew 23:5
We’ve been talking a lot this week about our relationship with Jesus. It’s easy during the Christian life to fall in love with doing good. Perhaps you love helping at the food pantry or volunteering at your church’s nursery.
And in all that doing good things, it’s easy to forget about the main thing: your relationship with Jesus.
We can often get so busy doing good that we forget what all of this is about. It’s about knowing Jesus. It’s about having a deep and fulfilling relationship with Him.
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Psalms 119:11
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21
I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither present nor the future, nor powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is ours in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39