I was an extremely worried child and teen. I worried mainly about the future. My mom said “cross that bridge when you get there” all the time. 

 

I once interrupted her with a concern in the middle of a big project she was doing. With frustration (because even the best moms get overwhelmed), she changed her strategy and said, “Tomorrow has enough troubles of its own! IT'S IN THE BIBLE," as if that detail might finally get me to stop narrating my anxious thoughts. It surely didn't! But it made me think about it a little more.

 

When I read this passage, I hear my mom's voice. I also hear this reminder: “God holds things together, not you.” I wonder what voice you hear.

 

There's plenty of comforting, confusing, concerning, and convicting things in this chapter.  If you'd like, keep scrolling for some of my big questions about this chapter. I'm sure you have some, too.

 

-Kat

 

 

 

 

Wednesday, November 15, 7-8:30pm

*We will focus on Genesis 1-3

*Come find us in the gathering place at church

 

Sunday, November 26, 9:15-9:55am

*We will focus on Matthew 6-8

*Come find us in the gathering place

25 ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? 28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 

 

31 Therefore do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” 32 For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

 

34 ‘So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

When I read this, it seems like Jesus is patting me on the head like I am small, and that gives me mixed feelings.

 

This statement from Jesus also sounds a bit like my mom reminding me to worry about one thing at a time. There are a lot of “tones” this could have – What do you hear?

 

Read the rest of Matthew 6 below, and keep scrolling for more reflection on it.

Am I allowed to suggest that Jesus has “a bit of an attitude” in this chapter? Why are some of the things Jesus says so gruff, so extreme, so ?rude? As we continue to read Jesus' messages, we will become more accustomed to his different modes and strategies. This is an area that I am still learning about.

 

Also, why does Jesus assume slaves exist? Why is Jesus preaching about all these other things and not against slavery?

 

 

Let's focus on the “what” rather than the “how” for a moment. In this chapter, what is Jesus saying about money? Materialism? Our priorities? Try reading the chapter looking for messages about those things.

 

“Walking the walk” rather than “talking the talk” is another theme in this chapter. Jesus is calling out his listeners about showing off while they pray and carry out other religious practices.