Devotion • October 3
Today’s Scripture Reading
Matthew 6:25–34
“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? 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? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 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? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” (NRSV)
Reflection
While enjoying a cheap slice of pizza on the boardwalk of the Jersey shore one lazy summer afternoon, I was surveilled by a vigilant seagull. Intently, he sat just above my shoulder on the rail of a park bench, well-poised for what he’d convinced himself would be the moment when I’d reach the crust, render it useless, and toss it on the ground for him to devour.
As it turned out, this pizza’s crust was so delectable that I ate it all, much to his dismay. Boy, did I hear about it! If simultaneous “squawk-to-English” translation were possible, a stream of four-letter words would’ve poured out of that fowl’s mouth. He may have found a miracle of feeding elsewhere, but on that day it did not come from me.
Jesus admonishes us to be like the birds — to not worry about the possibility of God not providing us our daily bread. As one who comes from a long line of “worriers,” I’m inclined to wonder what God might have in store to mitigate our worrying about such things, especially considering the millions of people globally who do, indeed, starve. Beyond worry, however, is the recognition that God has created us to be the vehicle for miracle.
How will we be fed? We will feed each other.
Where will we find clothing? We will fashion it for others and ourselves.
What does it mean to strive for the kingdom and righteousness of God? We must allow ourselves to be the conduit of the miracles God holds in store for God’s creation.
Prayer
Provide us, O Lord, with the faith, the will, and the opportunity to participate in the making of miracles, so that we may cast away worry and embrace a spirit of trust in your bountiful grace. Amen.
Written by Nancy Benson-Nicol, Associate Pastor for Caring Ministries and Spiritual Formation
Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church
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