There are certain passages of Scripture that I just don’t know what to do with. I believe them. I know them to be true. I know they are God’s word. But sometimes I just don’t know how to wrap my brain around what I’m reading and then live it out. Such a passage is found in Matthew 6. It’s the idea of taking no thought. For example verse 25 Yeshua says, “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on." And then the statement, “O ye of little faith.” Add to that, “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”
Each time I read this section of verses I am encouraged, challenged and convicted. I love these verses and “hate” them at the same time. What am I supposed to do with these verses? Are they really to be taken at face value? And if so, how?
Honestly, I am actually coming to the point in my life where I’m tired of trying to figure out verses like this. I am more-and-more just wanting to say: That’s what it says and I’m going to do it. But to be honest, the actual doing of these verses seems as daunting as when I stood at the Grand Canyon and knew I couldn’t jump to the other side.
And maybe that’s the point. God has “Grand Canyons” in the Bible to help us finally realize that we can only live out His word in His strength. We can only do the things He asks of us through His Spirit. If we can pull it off on our own, why do we need Him?
Perhaps I/we have lived too long in our own strength. I don’t know about you but I want my life to become a living demonstration of the reality and power of God. It won’t be an easy path. This kind of faith will be tested. I always tend to expect smooth sailing once I come to a point of decision like this. However, just a cursory reading of the Bible reminds me that’s not how it works. God tries us .. and tries us … and tries us ….
On my wall, I’m looking at the Grand Canyon picture of my three sons and me standing on a rock we jumped out to in order to take the picture. It was a little scary jumping to it. But, we all wanted a picture of us out in the midst of all that beauty.
I want to take the leap of faith out to my Rock and Saviour in order to show Him in all His glorious beauty. Don’t you?
Let’s leap together.
Father, please help us …
Warren