What is in today? Each one of us faces different circumstances when we wake up each day. Some face depression because of illness, financial stress, relationship problems, or maybe the loss of a loved one. It causes many to either live in the past or jump forward to the future, where things will be different. For whatever reason, we seem to live everywhere, but the present. Moms and Dads can’t wait to have a baby. When the baby comes, they can’t wait until it will sleep all night, then eat table food, get out of diapers, and then start school! Kids can’t wait to get out of school, start their own life, get a job, find a mate, and then start the next cycle. Adults can’t wait to get their dream job, and then they can’t wait to retire. We seem to live life pushing forward. We miss so much of what God has intended for us to enjoy, and learn from, by rushing past it to get to tomorrow.
In Matthew 6:25 and 6:31, Jesus warns not to put so much emphasis on what will happen tomorrow. He is not saying don’t plan or be prepared.
Matthew 6:25 “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. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?”
What he is saying is to keep your priorities in order. Put him first in all things. Verse 33 tells us to seek His kingdom and His righteousness first, and He will take care of the things we need.
Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Now, before you lay back on your lazy chair and take this the wrong way, let me assure you that the intent was not to just lay back and let life happen. He is challenging us to live in the here and now, to follow His commands for today. Some of those would be: work hard and give an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay, be a witness to those around you, look for people you can help, and focus on what God has granted you today.
How many teachable moments do we miss with our children because we are focused on the toys being a mess, rather than looking at it as an opportunity to play and teach our children? I know when mine were little, it was a struggle when I was trying to clean. It seemed the more I cleaned, the more they messed up. There is a balance to be gained, but all those messes breed teachable opportunities for your child and you. I still remember the many days my boys would build forts with the living room furniture and blankets. The room was a mess, but it allowed me time to clean other areas, and when they were done, it was time to teach them to clean up. Shhh, sometimes I stopped and played with them!
How much worry is built into our day by focusing on what happened yesterday, and what will happen tomorrow that may not come? Yesterday is done. The value of yesterday is what we can learn from it, which can help us to be more like Christ. The value of tomorrow is yet to be seen, but it can be enhanced by how we live today.
Matthew 6:26-30 “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?”
If we will do all that God intends for us today, He will take care of us tomorrow. Think of the stress you could save yourself by living today, in this moment. When we get ahead of God, we make mistakes and sin. When we are preoccupied with the future, it drains us of the energy to take care of the sinful selfish habits we may have. It is very hard to listen to instructions for today when our mind is on tomorrow.
In Galatians 5:25, we are told to live by the Spirit to walk, not run ahead, of the Spirit. When we walk, we are going at a pace to pay attention to detail. Our prayers will be real communication with God, and they won’t be generalized prayers. Our obedience will be from the Spirit within, not outward compliance. There will be a daily cleansing of our whole being.
Galatians 5:25 “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
Living this way places our whole trust in Jesus Christ. He becomes our goal and everything else takes care of itself.
