Jesus Always Cares for Us
OPENING PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, as your children, we are so thankful that you always care for us, as I Peter 5:7 (NIV), says “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). John 6:5-10 (NIV
REFLECT:
I was looking at Facebook this morning and noticed a couple of dads taking their kids out for donuts. I remember doing the same when my girls were younger. I never started out by asking them, “hey, where are you girls taking me for donuts? They knew they would be loaded into the car, strapped in their seat belts, and taken to the donut shop. They never contemplated how to get there, they never worried “if” they would get there (especially with Dad). They just knew they would get there. Then, they would walk in, pick out their donut selections and I would have them sit down and bring them those specific donuts. They didn’t pull out their wallets or need to figure out “how” to pay for them…they just knew donuts were coming!
I imagine that this was much like how the 5,000 (plus women and children) were, as they were told to sit down. They didn’t have to go hunt for food. They didn’t have to beg or buy it, they just needed to sit down. How many times do we get anxious about things we need, and we don’t ‘sit down,’ acknowledging our trust in Him? How often do we pace and worry and fret over provisions for our life…when Jesus only wants us to sit down, and he will provide?” Matthew 6:30 (NIV) says “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, O, you of little faith?”
APPLY:
Take a moment and consider the many blessings which God has poured into your life today. Spend a few minutes with pen and paper or on a note in your phone and record a list of all the things you are thankful for. Writing things down is a great way to remind us of these blessings! My daughter has an app on her phone that prompts her to recount at least three good things a day that happen in her life. When we take time to consider how God cares for us, we begin to appreciate his unlimited love for us. Love that took his own son to the cross on our behalf. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us,” Romans 5:8 (NIV).
CLOSING PRAYER:
Dear Jesus, as your children, we are so thankful that you keep us and care for us. You said, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand,” John 10:28 (NIV).