Editor’s Note: The AMI devotionals from July 4-5 are provided by Christine Chang of GCC.
Devotional Thoughts for Today
Matthew 6: 30-33 (ESV): But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
A while ago, my dad was away on a teaching trip, and the rest of the family was at home minding their individual affairs. Suddenly, I heard a conversation occurring downstairs that sounded unusually stressful. Apparently my brother had been notified that an important document hadn’t been correctly filled out, and the deadline was approaching within the next twelve hours. The conversation involved my brother and mom frantically trying to figure out a solution, and this continued for several minutes to no avail.
A short while later, I returned to check on the situation, and the atmosphere totally confused me: my brother was watching a movie and my mom was getting ready for bed, as if the code red situation had never taken place. When asked about whether they figured it out, my mom cheerfully said no. But, she called my dad and explained the matter, after which it was assured that he would handle it. The issue remained unresolved, but everyone slept well that night because they trusted that my dad had it under control.
This is an earthly representation of how our dependence on God should be. Although there seems to always be a reason to worry (especially as adults who age, gain responsibilities, and become more aware of this world), our privilege through the Gospel is to be assured that God is in control and can handle any burden.
But a willing mind isn’t enough to make this happen; rather, true freedom comes from a deep, sustained relationship with Him. The eastern religions emphasize meditation as the practice of repeating a word or phrase to enter an effortless state of mindlessness. But Scripture clearly encourages us to actively ponder the works of the Lord, as it states in Matthew 6. Tim Keller in his book Prayer describes biblical meditation as “spiritually tasting the Scripture–delighting in it, sensing the sweetness of the teaching, feeling the conviction of what it tells us about ourselves, and thanking God and praising God for what it shows us about Him.” It is only when we discover the character of God in Scripture will we have the faith to trust Him with our burdens. Today, instead of merely saying “I need more faith” or “I should stop worrying,” let’s spend some time meditating on the Word and seeking His face. Faith in God will naturally arise from an intentional relationship with Him.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You that I can absolutely trust in your care and concern for my life. I love and I praise You for everything but most of all for your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Philemon 1