Facing the New Year Unafraid

Facing the New Year Unafraid!

Here we are at the threshold of a New Year -- 2008.

Has the question occurred to you: -- “What does this New Year hold for me?”

Unfortunately -- we are living at a time -- when people are nervous -- & afraid. -- Nervous about their safety & security! Nervous about the state of the economy! Nervous about the rising cost of fuel.

Nervous about an uncertain future! Nervous about the outcome of a presidential election.

Questions are being asked -- serious questions -- if not spoken out loud -- at least entertained in the mind! What’s going to happen next? -- Will we survive this? -- What about my income -- my holdings? -- Should I spend -- or should I tightly hold onto what little I have?

How long will the war in Iraq & Afghanistan last? How many more of our young men & women will be killed?

In my life time -- I have never before witnessed so much anxiety in the minds & hearts of people I talk to everyday! To where do we turn for answers -- for a sense of direction -- for reassurance?

I am not a prophet -- nor the son of a prophet -- but I know where truth can be found in these uncertain times -- & that is, truth can be found in the Word of God!

My friends -- while circumstance may change -- events beyond our control may occur -- while hardship & heartaches may come -- the Word of the Lord never changes! The Word of the Lord is steadfast & sure!

This week I have once again looked at the words of Jesus found in Matthew’s Gospel -- chapter 6 -- in a passage which often is called the Theology of Providence! It is called the Theology of Providence -- because it teaches us the important lesson that God does provide! -- Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV).

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 important than food, & the body more important than clothes?

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns,

& yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not much more valuable than they?

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow.

They do not labor or spin.

Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field,

which is here today & tomorrow is thrown into the fire,

will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?

or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’

For the pagans run after all these things, & your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

But seek first His kingdom & His righteousness, & all these things will be given to you as well.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.

Each day has enough trouble of its own.

You may have noticed that there are three summary statements in this passage -- each of which say to us essentially the same thing: -- 6:25 -- “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life.”

6:31 -- “So do not worry.” 6:34 -- “Therefore do not worry.”

The overwhelming point Jesus is making in this passage is: -- Do not worry! For God does provide our needs!

To illustrate this truth -- Jesus uses three simple object lessons: -- the birds of the air (vr 26); -- the flowers -- or the lilies, of the field (vr 28); -- & the grass of the field (vr 30).

The key in this lesson is to always remember that you & I have a Heavenly Father -- in whom we can put our faith & trust! Jesus says to each one of us personally today: -- “I tell you, do not worry! Don’t worry about anything! Don’t be anxious at all!”

Can you think of any command that is more difficult for us to obey -- than this command to not worry?

People just naturally seem to worry; -- most everyone I know worries at some time or another; -- still worry is such a useless exercise! It has been said that a day of worry is more exhausting than a week of work!

In this passage -- Jesus attempts to deal with this most difficult of diseases; -- that is, this disease of worry & anxiety! We must conquer worry -- or worry will conquer us!

Remember that this lesson comes to us from a penniless preacher -- as He sat upon a Judean hill side. He is giving us a cure for worry; -- an antidote for anxiety.

Jesus tells us how to quite worrying & start trusting -- & He does so with three simple reminders.

So throughout this New Year -- I want to challenge you to Remember these three very simple lessons.

1. Remember -- God Is Our Source of Supply! -- (6:26-30)

As our Heavenly Father cares for the birds of the air; -- as He cares for the flowers & the grass of the fields; -- He cares for you & me! -- We are His children!

You & I can be worry free as we learn to depend upon our Heavenly Father for the necessities of life!

Our Source -- is not people -- nor in man-made opportunities -- nor in human manipulations; -- our Source is in God & in Him alone! It is He who holds the wealth of the world in His hand!

He dispenses it to us as long as we keep our spiritual mouth open to receive!

God’s care -- & God’s power -- are inseparable!

God gives many precious promises regarding His care over His people.

He says to us: -- “Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord God is with thee whitersoever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

He says to us: -- “My presence shall go with you & I will give you rest” (Exodus 33:14).

He says to us: -- “Lo, I am with you always. Even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20).

God is still on the throne! -- God reigns & all is well!

Ruth Vaughn -- in an article entitled Trust -- tells the story of how she came home from school one day full of excitement over the upcoming debate tournament where she was certain she would win superior ratings for her articulate, mature logic. She was 15 years old at the time -- & life was good!

Her parents smiled quietly as they listened to their exuberant, youthful daughter. -- And then it happened! With no warning, her mother slumped in unconsciousness!

The doctor was called; -- he came & carefully worked with Ruth’s mother -- then somberly said: -- “This is serious.” Ruth was bewildered! -- She thought: -- “Could it be that, in this moment on an ordinary day, our lives were changing forever?”

Stunned, she watched her beloved, beautiful mother as she lay helpless, unsmiling, unknowing.

Ruth looked at the expression on the face of her rock-solid father -- & understood how serious this situation really was. She knew that her secure, carefree past had ended without even a reflective moment for a good-bye wave.

When the doctor left -- there the two of them stood -- adult, wise father & youthful ignorant daughter -- looking at the still silent form of the woman whose beauty had illuminated their lives -- knowing that the father’s small pastoral salary offered no money for hospitalization.

Ruth sobbed uncontrollably -- with hysterical tears. Her father took Ruth in his great arms -- held her against the warm & steady beat of his heart -- put his hand on her curls -- & said: -- “Shhh! Shhh! Steady, Ruth, steady.” And then he said a phrase Ruth had heard many times before: -- “Let God be God. -- We are safe there.”

While at first terrified -- her parents strong faith held Ruth steady.

Cut off from the known past -- cut off from the unknown future -- yet Ruth knew she was, in fact, safe. -- God was God! She would later testify -- “I would allow Him to be Creator -- I the created. -- I would allow Him to be Infinite -- I the finite. -- I would allow Him to be Father -- I the child.”

After Ruth’s mother collapsed with a stroke that day -- she needed a wheelchair or walker for the rest of her life. But she kept her humor & her trust in God.

And as for Ruth -- she learned an all important lesson to “Let God be God. -- We are safe there.” -- God is our supply! As Ruth let God be God she could say: -- “I am safe -- I am secure!”

2. Remember -- We Live One Day At A Time! (6:34)

As children of God -- we should take each day as it comes -- & declare: -- “This is the day which the Lord has made: I will rejoice & be glad in it!” (Psalm 118:24).

If we could just somehow remember that simple little phrase from the Lord’s prayer: -- “Give us this day our daily bread.”

Some people worry about the past -- but there is nothing we can do to change it. -- Some people worry about the future; -- it is called anticipating disaster.

Worry pulls tomorrow’s cloud over today’s sunshine!

There is an old saying that goes like this: -- Life by the yard is hard -- but by the inch its a cinch!

Dwight L. Moody tells about the time that he stood inside a clock shop & watched a big pendulum in a large open faced grandfather clock. He said: -- “I began to calculate how long it would be before the big wheels of the instrument were worn out -- & its work was done. The clock would be expected to tick night & day -- so many times a minute -- 60 times that much every hour -- 24 times that much every day -- & 365 times that much every year.”

Moody said -- “The more I thought about it -- the more it staggered me. -- It was awful! -- What a row of figures it made. -- Millions of ticks! -- I thought I could hear the poor pendulum exclaim -- ‘I can never do it.’

“Then I imagined the clock maker saying -- ‘Oh yes you can -- you need do only one tick at a time! -- You can do that, can’t you?’ -- ‘Oh yes’ the pendulum replied. -- ‘Well’ said the clock maker -- ‘that is all which will be required of you.’ So the pendulum went to work steadily ticking -- one tick at a time -- & years later now that clock is still ticking quite cheerfully.” That, my friends -- is a good lesson!

I read recently about a woman who had to undergo a serious operation which would confine her to bed for many months. Just as the doctor was completing his first examination after the surgery -- she asked him anxiously -- “Doctor, how long will I have to lie here & be helpless?”

He replied in a kind tone of voice -- “Just one day at a time, my dear. Just one day at a time.”

My friends -- if we could only remember that -- how helpful it would be in facing whatever problems or crises life might bring us.

Do you remember the song: --

One day at a time sweet Jesus

That's all I'm asking from you.

Just give me the strength

To do everyday what I have to do.

Yesterday's gone sweet Jesus

And tomorrow may never be mine.

Lord help me today, show me the way

One day at a time.

-- (Marijohn Wilkins & Kris Kristofferson)

As J.B. Phillips puts it in his translation of this text -- “Don’t worry at all then about tomorrow. -- Tomorrow can take care of itself! -- One day’s trouble is enough for one day.”

3. Remember -- When God Guides, God Provides! (33)

Matthew 6:33 --says: -- Seek first His kingdom & His righteousness, & all these things will be given to you as well.” This is a verse we need to read -- & study -- & memorize!

Put this verse away in your heart -- & use it as a guide throughout this New Year -- by which to live.

If we give the Lord first place in our lives -- He will cause everything else to fall into place!

His hand points the direction for us to go -- & at the same time -- His hand contains everything that is necessary for us to go where He is pointing!

Why should we believe in God as our Provider -- our Source? Because He is our Heavenly Father!

Read it again in verse 32 -- “Your Heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things.”

When Jeannette & I came to Arizona -- my father was glad we had come -- but he was concerned that we would starve to death! The church was small -- & unable to support us -- & jobs were scares.

He just knew we would not survive. But God has provided our every need now for these 21 years.

God is faithful. -- God is good! -- Where God guides, God provides!

My friends -- always do what is right! -- Obey no matter what the cost!

Seek to do God’s will -- & He will provide!

Conclusion: --In these uncertain times -- & throughout the New Year -- lets adopt this passage; -- lets dwell upon its meaning; -- lets live in its lessons.

Discover for yourself the theology of providence!

In these uncertain times -- we will either worry -- or we will trust!

Jesus teaches us that trust in our Heavenly Father is the cure for worry & anxiety!

Jesus gives us three very simple little reminders.

He is say: -- “Remember -- God is our Source of supply; -- we live one day at a time; -- when God guides -- God provides!”

Adopt Matthew 6:33 as your guide for the day in which we live!

Worry can do a lot of things to you!

But trust can do a lot of things for you!

When we put our cares into God’s hand’s -- He puts His peace into our hearts!

Pastor Lyle Pettit -- Wynne Chapel -- Cochise, AZ

January 6, 2008