Do not worry about your life. Matthew
6:25
Today’s Scripture Matthew 6:25-27
Today's Insights In Matthew
6:25-34, Jesus promises to provide for our needs. One of the most dramatic
examples of God’s comprehensive care took place in the desert as the Israelites
journeyed to the promised land. They were totally dependent on the divine
Shepherd during their forty-year trek. And, just as God provides for the birds
(Matthew 6:26) and clothes the flowers (vv. 28-29), He provided food for His
people and clothing that didn’t wear out (Deuteronomy 8:3-4)! Moses explained
the purpose of the wilderness classroom: “He humbled you, causing you to hunger
and then feeding you with manna . . . to teach you that man does not live on
bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (v. 3).
Our physical cravings are meant to reveal a deeper, spiritual dependence on God
whose words sustain us. We can spend our energy focused on His interests,
knowing He’ll take care of all our needs (Matthew 6:33).
Today's Devotional Nancy feared the
future, seeing only trouble. Her husband Tom had fainted three times during a
hiking trip in rural Maine. But doctors at a small nearby hospital found
nothing wrong. At a larger medical center, where doctors conducted additional
tests, they also found no problem. “I was very afraid,” Nancy stated. As her
husband was released, she questioned the cardiologist one last time, asking,
“What do we do now?” He gave her words of wisdom that forever changed her
outlook. “Go live your life,” he said. “It wasn’t in a flippant way,” Nancy
recalls. “It was his advice to us.”
Such guidance captures Jesus’
instruction in the Sermon on the Mount. He said, “Do not worry about your
life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is
not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” (Matthew 6:25). Such
guidance doesn’t say to ignore medical or other problems or symptoms. Instead,
Christ simply said, “Do not worry” (v. 25). He then asked, “Can any one of you
by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (v. 27).
The prophet Isaiah offered similar
wisdom. “Say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear; your
God will come’ ” (Isaiah 35:4). For Nancy and Tom, they’re inspired now to walk
more than five miles a day. No longer walking with worry, they step out with
joy.
Reflect & Pray
What’s your greatest fear? How can
giving your worry to Christ enhance your life? If I’m feeling worried today, dear Jesus, please
grant me confidence to give my fear to You as I live out Your peace. by Patricia
Raybon
今日经文 马太福音 6章25-27 节
今日心得 在马太福音 6:25-34 中，耶稣承诺满足我们的需要。上帝全面照顾我们最戏剧性的例子之一，是在以色列人穿越沙漠前往应许之地。在他们四十年的跋涉中，他们完全依靠神圣的牧羊人。而且，就像上帝喂养鸟类（马太福音 6:26）和为花朵穿上衣服（第 28-29 节）一样，他为他的子民提供食物和不会穿坏的衣服（申命记 8:3-4）！摩西解释了荒野之课的目的：“他苦炼你，使你饥饿，又拿吗哪给你吃……使你知道人活着，不是单靠食物，乃是靠耶和华口里所出的一切话”（第 3 节）。我们身体上的渴望是为了揭示我们对上帝更深层次的精神依赖，上帝的话语支撑着我们。我们可以把精力集中在祂的利益上，知道祂会照顾我们所有的需要（马太福音 6:33）。
今日灵修 南希害怕未来，她只看到麻烦。她的丈夫汤姆在缅因州乡村徒步旅行时晕倒了三次。但附近一家小医院的医生没有发现任何问题。在一家更大的医疗中心，医生给她丈夫作了额外检查，也没有发现任何问题。“我非常害怕，”南希说。当她的丈夫出院时，她最后一次问心脏病专家，“我们现在该怎么办？” “去过你的生活，”他说。医生给她的智慧话语，永远改变了她的看法。
“这不是轻率的方式，”南希回忆道。“这是他给我们的建议。”
这样的指导体现了耶稣在登山宝训中的教诲。他说，“不要为生命忧虑吃什么，喝什么；为身体忧虑穿什么。生命不胜于饮食吗？身体不胜于衣裳吗？”（马太福音 6:25）。这并不是说要忽视医疗或其他问题或症状。相反，基督只是说：“不要忧虑”（第 25 节）。然后他问道：“你们谁能用忧虑使寿数多加一刻呢？”（第 27 节）。 先知以赛亚也提供了类似的智慧。“对胆怯的人说：‘你们要刚强，不要惧怕；你们的神必临到。’”（以赛亚书 35:4）。对于南希和汤姆来说，他们现在受到启发，每天步行超过五英里。他们不再忧心忡忡，而是满怀喜悦地走出去。
反思与祈祷 你最大的恐惧是什么？把你的忧虑交给基督如何能改善你的生活？
亲爱的耶稣，如果我今天感到忧虑，请赐给我信心，让我在活出你的平安的同时，把我的恐惧交给你。 作者：帕特里夏·雷邦
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