LIVE NOT IN CAREFUL SUSPENSE!

 

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

 

LIVE NOT IN CAREFUL SUSPENSE!

 

Luke 12:27-31

27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?

29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

 

          The phrase in verse 29, “neither be ye of doubtful mind” roughly means “do not live in careful suspense.” We all can relate to that. Despite our best efforts at emotional stability and spiritual maturity we are often loaded down with care and suspense.

 

          We look to the lilies as models of calm confidence in their Creator. They do not anxiously toil to make changes in their circumstances. They do not spin yarn and weave fabric to make clothing and yet they are clothed gloriously as they stand in total surrender to their Master. We protest that we are not lilies! We don’t simply stand mindlessly planted in the dirt while the sun beats down on us or we are drenched with rain. We struggle to change the circumstances of our lives, yet we depend on God to improve our situation.

 

          The thought upon which to focus is that God cares more for us than he does for lilies and grasses. Nature is provided her need in faithful cycles. Wringing our hands murmuring “what shall we eat, or what shall we drink and wherewithal shall we be clothed” has no impact upon the hunger or thirst or nakedness. God looks down, sees our need and out of the riches of His character and nature provides exactly what we need in a timely manner. Your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

 

          The activity that should fill our time of waiting is prayer and reaching for the kingdom. Labor therefore to know your God intimately and to do His will and His work diligently. While you are at work at these pursuits God will, because He is God, provide all these things that cause you to live in careful suspense.

 

God, it is hard to set aside a lifetime of careful suspense and to replace it with calm trust – but I shall try. AMEN