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Matthew 6:25-34 New International Version (NIV)

Do Not Worry

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, 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? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^[a]?

²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Let us be people of light and hope!

Joni

References & Reflections

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronavirus_disease_2019
[2] https://www.searchingthescriptures.net/main_pages/sermon_outlines/Sermon%20on%20the%20Mount%20-%20PFD/23%20Sermon%20on%20the%20Mount%20-%20Do%20Not%20Worry.pdf
[3] http://jimbomkamp.com/matthew/Matt_6P4.htm

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Judges 6:11-24 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Call of Gideon

¹¹ Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites. ¹² And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.” ¹³ And Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.” ¹⁴ And the Lord^[a] turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?” ¹⁵ And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” ¹⁶ And the Lord said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.” ¹⁷ And he said to him, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, then show me a sign that it is you who speak with me. ¹⁸ Please do not depart from here until I come to you and bring out my present and set it before you.” And he said, “I will stay till you return.”

¹⁹ So Gideon went into his house and prepared a young goat and unleavened cakes from an ephah^[b] of flour. The meat he put in a basket, and the broth he put in a pot, and brought them to him under the terebinth and presented them. ²⁰ And the angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened cakes, and put them on this rock, and pour the broth over them.” And he did so. ²¹ Then the angel of the Lord reached out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes. And fire sprang up from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened cakes. And the angel of the Lord vanished from his sight. ²² Then Gideon perceived that he was the angel of the Lord. And Gideon said, “Alas, O Lord God! For now I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face.” ²³ But the Lord said to him, “Peace be to you. Do not fear; you shall not die.” ²⁴ Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it, The Lord Is Peace. To this day it still stands at Ophrah, which belongs to the Abiezrites.

Rejoice Always! Anxious for Nothing

Philippians 4:4

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be apparent to all. The Lord is near.

6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Rejoice Always! Anxious for Nothing

Philippians 4:4

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be apparent to all. The Lord is near.

6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Heaven: Our Real Home – A Better World – Preparing a Place Before Jesus & God’s Presence!

John 14:2

In My Father’s House are Many Rooms

1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe in Me as well.

2 In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am.

Resurrection

Resurrection — Jesus tells us the truth: “Fear Not!”

Matthew 28:10

The Resurrection

…
9Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They came to Him, grasped His feet, and worshiped Him. 
10“Do not be afraid,” said Jesus. “Go, tell My brothers to go to Galilee. There they will see Me.”

References & Reflections

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronavirus_disease_2019

Rejoice Always! Anxious for Nothing

Philippians 4:4

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be apparent to all. The Lord is near.

6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Rejoice Always! Anxious for Nothing

Philippians 4:4

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be apparent to all. The Lord is near.

6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Heaven: Our Real Home – A Better World – Preparing a Place Before Jesus & God’s Presence!

John 14:2

In My Father’s House are Many Rooms

1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe in Me as well.

2 In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am.

Resurrection

Resurrection — Jesus tells us the truth: “Fear Not!”

Matthew 28:10

The Resurrection

…
9Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They came to Him, grasped His feet, and worshiped Him. 
10“Do not be afraid,” said Jesus. “Go, tell My brothers to go to Galilee. There they will see Me.”

References & Reflections

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronavirus_disease_2019

You Are My All in All

You are my strength when I am weak

You are the treasure that I seek

You are my all in all

Seeking You as a precious jewel

Lord, to give up I’d be a fool

You are my all in all 

Taking my sin, my cross, my shame

Rising up again I bless Your name

You are my all in all

When I fall down You pick me up

When I am dry You fill my cup

You are my all in all Jesus, Lamb of God

Worthy is Your name

Jesus, Lamb of God

Worthy is Your name You are my strength when I am weak

You are the treasure that I seek

You are my all in all

Seeking You as a precious jewel

Lord, to give up I’d be a fool

You are my all in all Taking my sin, my cross, my shame

Rising up again I bless Your name

You are my all in all

When I fall down You pick me up

When I get dry You fill my cup

You are my all in all Jesus, Lamb of God

Worthy is Your name

Jesus, Lamb of God

Worthy is Your name

https://lyricstranslate.com by Dennis Jernigan

References & Reflections

[1] https://wordtoworship.com/song/1631

[2] https://lyricstranslate.com/en/Worship-Songs-You-are-my-all-all-lyrics.html

¹⁶ “Blind guides! What sorrow awaits you! For you say that it means nothing to swear ‘by God’s Temple,’ but that it is binding to swear ‘by the gold in the Temple.’ 

 ¹⁷ Blind fools! Which is more important—the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred?

¹⁸ And you say that to swear ‘by the altar’ is not binding, but to swear ‘by the gifts on the altar’ is binding. ¹⁹ How blind! For which is more important—the gift on the altar or the altar that makes the gift sacred?

²⁰ When you swear ‘by the altar,’ you are swearing by it and by everything on it. ²¹ And when you swear ‘by the Temple,’ you are swearing by it and by God, who lives in it. ²² And when you swear ‘by heaven,’ you are swearing by the throne of God and by God, who sits on the throne.

references & reflections

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_blind_leading_the_blind
[2] https://slideplayer.com/slide/7864452/
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woes_of_the_Pharisees

¹⁶ “Blind guides! What sorrow awaits you! For you say that it means nothing to swear ‘by God’s Temple,’ but that it is binding to swear ‘by the gold in the Temple.’ 

 ¹⁷ Blind fools! Which is more important—the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred?

¹⁸ And you say that to swear ‘by the altar’ is not binding, but to swear ‘by the gifts on the altar’ is binding. ¹⁹ How blind! For which is more important—the gift on the altar or the altar that makes the gift sacred?

²⁰ When you swear ‘by the altar,’ you are swearing by it and by everything on it. ²¹ And when you swear ‘by the Temple,’ you are swearing by it and by God, who lives in it. ²² And when you swear ‘by heaven,’ you are swearing by the throne of God and by God, who sits on the throne.

references & reflections

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_blind_leading_the_blind
[2] https://slideplayer.com/slide/7864452/
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woes_of_the_Pharisees

Seven Woes on the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees

²³ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin.

But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

Matthew 23:23[b] NIV

References & reflection

[1] https://christswords.com/node/394
[2] http://mamabishop.blogspot.com/2018/07/justice-mercy-and-faith.html
[3] https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/13781/Justice-Mercy-Faith.htm
[4] https://www.workingpreacher.org/craft.aspx?post=4909
[5] https://www.ucg.org/sermons/justice-mercy-and-faith-3
[6] http://thissiteisbestviewed.com/2018/06/19/seven-woes-on-the-teachers-of-the-law-and-the-pharisees/
[7] https://jesuswll.wordpress.com/2016/08/23/seven-woes-on-the-teachers-of-the-law-and-the-pharisees-mt/
[8] https://www.kfuo.org/2016/12/15/tsw-2016-12-15/
[9] https://loveisalifestyle.org/2017/04/19/poetic-justice-a-story-of-love-mercy-justice-truth-and-eternal-triumph-new-book-coming-soon-godislove-faith-hope-love-warriorwednesday/
[10] http://www.twotlj.org/G-2-6-F.html

2 Corinthians 8:7 NLT

 ⁷ You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

2nd Corinthians 8:7, Proverbs 22:8

2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV

⁸ And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

2 Corinthians 5:21 New Living Translation (NLT)

²¹ For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:21

A Call to Generous Giving

8 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters,^[a] what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. ² They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.

³ For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. ⁴ They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.^[b] 5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.

⁶ So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. ⁷ Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us^[c]—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.

⁸ I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.

⁹ You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

¹⁰ Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. ¹¹ Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have. ¹² Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. ¹³ Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. ¹⁴ Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal. ¹⁵ As the Scriptures say,

“Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over,
    and those who gathered only a little had enough.”

2nd Corinthians 8:15, Exodus 16:8

References & Reflections

[1] (2 Cor. 8:15) Why does Paul quote Exodus 16:18? http://www.evidenceunseen.com/bible-difficulties-2/nt-difficulties/romans-2/2-cor-815-why-does-paul-quote-exodus-1618/
[2] http://www.jesuswalk.com/paul/paul-lesson-handouts.pdf
[3] https://slideplayer.com/slide/6290301/