Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

 

Creation proclaiming the Glory of God Mathew 6: 25-30  V.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?" We have developed devices and methods to make life comfortable. Yet most of us are unhappy. The number of persons suffering from anxiety and depression is increasing all over the world, especially due to the spread of the pandemic, COVID-19. People are worried about their future; security, health and finances.  The portion for today’s devotion is from the Sermon on the Mount, which is referred to as ‘Gospel in a nutshell’. In chapters 5 and 6 Jesus is trying to teach his listeners the real meaning and significance of the commandments and of religious customs and practices like prayer, worship, fasting, alms giving, etc. He teaches them through the Lord’s Prayer to address God as Father and to ask for the food for the day. We need not be anxious about tomorrow which is in God’s hands. Some of you may have watched a video in which a group of students go on a picnic. Instead of enjoying the beautiful scenery around, they are busy browsing their phones. We have become a generation which is so addicted to the internet that we seldom look up or around to watch, enjoy and appreciate the beauty of nature. The psalmist says,. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Psalm 19:1). Jesus asks to look around and learn lessons from birds and plants. The birds are not crazy to collect and hoard food. They know that their creator will provide food sufficient for the day. Trees and plants in an area grow in the same soil and get the same weather. But they bear flowers of different design, color and size. Again, we read in the Psalms, “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? (Psalm 8: 3, 4) Instead of looking at ourselves, we need to spend some time watching the beauty, variety and wonder of nature. Watch how a spider weaves its web or a bird builds its nest. The God who created the universe is the One who created us in His own image. “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?” (v.30). When we worry, it puts us lower than the birds and animals. Birds sing, chirp, fly, build nests, but they don’t worry. “And this our life, exempt from public haunts, finds tongues in trees, books in running brooks, sermons in stones and good in everything”(As you like it: Act 2 Shakespeare) “We should look not only to the scriptures, and the churches to know God, but to creation as well “ (George McDonald as quoted by James Merritt)

PRAYER Heavenly Father, we confess that we waste our time and health by worrying about many things. Help us to remember that you are our Father and to praise you along with the whole creation and enjoy peace of mind. Amen.    Thought for the day “When you are worrying, you are acting like a spiritual orphan. You are acting like either there is no God, or, if there is, he is powerless”. James Merritt.

Rev. Dr. Philip Varghese Kozhencherry