Saturday, November 24, 2012

Thanksgiving GOSPEL: Luke 12:22-32

Reading

And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.   The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.   Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?   And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?   If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?   Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.   If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?   And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.   For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.   But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.   Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Commentary

When we hear these words spoken by our Lord Jesus, we should give a sigh of relief.  How senseless it is to worry about our food and clothing, knowing "the life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment."  Every day of our life we live under His grace and not His wrath, and God knows how to give even before we ask.  Yet we should ask, "Ask and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find."  In order to help us think aright, Jesus points out that the birds of the air neither sow nor reap….namely they are not farmers who must plant crops and harvest, yet God provides for them.  How much more precious are we to the Lord than these animals which do not have souls?  Jesus gave His body and soul in exchange for our own upon the cross, so can He ever fail us in any way?  If then, or when we find ourselves filled with fear and worry, we are to remember our Heavenly Father knows well what we need and He will provide.  Even when He holds back blessings so that we are tried, such is a greater blessing in disguise.  Let us be sure then to put God's Kingdom, His Word, Christ first in our life, and then everything else will fall into place.  "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

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