Good morning, dear special ones.
I’ve done a little round of exercise earlier this morning. Checking conditions on the mountain again is disappointing. I don’t have much interest in pursuing that kind of exercise just yet—with a present temperature of 37 degrees at TIMBERLINE. What’s going on with our winter?
Becki is off to leading her little Bible Study at Woodburn. Thano will soon be going to his shift as a courtesy clerk at Safeway. I have piles of work facing me. Now—which pile do I determine to attack first?
Blessings on your attack—or however you choose to process your day.
Love, Ray
People in general live to do what they want. But how many people take time to seriously examine their wants?—testing and managing their desires against the measure of true and lasting benefits?—such as happiness, peace, security, freedom from guilt, right relationship with their Maker, and eternity?
I like this simple illustration: Imagine approaching a little 3-year-old child with an offer that requires his choice. In one hand you have an authentic bank draft in the amount of $1,000,000. In the other hand you are holding a Snickers candy bar. You hold up the two items and simply say, “You can only choose one, Johnny. Which do you want?” You already know which hand Johnny will choose. After all, he’s only 3—with his infantile view of how life and economy work. He can’t be expected to be mature enough to recognize any attractive value in that piece of paper you’re holding—but he sure knows something of the sensual delight experienced from eating a candy bar.
You get the point. I’m afraid that people who are not enlightened so as to recognize the infinite value and benefits available to them by means of a passionate HEART AFTER GOD show themselves to be equivalent to Johnny when it comes to making their own life choices. If the wisdom of godliness does not prevail, foolishness will.
The reasoning Jesus goes on to present in this passage is sterling. It identifies the wonderful cause-and-effect equation for achieving true success in life. “This is why I tell you to never be worried about your life, for all that you need will be provided, such as food, water, clothing—everything your body needs. Isn’t there more to your life than a meal? Isn’t your body more than clothing?” (6:25—The Passion Translation). If the basis (the cause) for your living is a HEART AFTER GOD, which includes the priority pursuit of “heavenly treasures,” that orientation will always serve as a platform for the supply of adequate provisions (the effect). This, of course, is not a promise of wealth and perfect on-going health. It’s simply the safest and best way to navigate our personal lives in the context of a fallen world.
Miss Biblical Wisdom speaks—