Going For The Kingdom!

"But seek first His kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you... Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own." Matthew 6:33-34 Why I ever worry about a thing, is beyond me! Here I am, half a century old and God has always taken care of me. But I worry where I'll be 10 years from now. Who my sons might marry. Will we have enough money to retire? Will our health hold out? The list can go on and on. But Jesus reminds us that the birds of the air and the lilies of the field are well taken care of by God. Are we not much more valuable than these to Him? Oh we of little faith??!!??!! (Matthew 6:25-34) God was training the Israelites that He was their provider. They needed to be rescued - he sent a deliver, Moses who even crossed them over the Red Sea. They needed food - He provided manna. They needed water - He provided it through a rock. They sought to be free from the bond of slavery and God whisked them out. He miraculously provided for them in their doubt (stories from Exodus). Yet, they still did not believe the promised land could ever be theirs. God told Moses to send some men, one from each tribe, out to explore the land he was about to give them. They did and came back with a mixed report. They brought back grapes that were so heavy, it took two men to carry it on a pole. Pomegranates and figs were also found. Giants and powerful nations were also living in the land that far outnumbered them (this story is found in Numbers 13). Caleb said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." Numbers 13:30 Only he and Joshua had faith that God would be with them and against all human odds, would be given the promised land. The other ten spies cried out, "We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are." And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored." Numbers 13:31b-32a Moses and Aaron knew this would anger God who had protected and provided for them all these years. Had they no faith even after all the miraculous things God did for them? Had they not learned a thing? Moses and Aaron pleaded with the people to not rebel out of fear. Joshua said, "..do not rebel...do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them." Numbers 14:9. The people wanted to stone them and rebelled anyway. God said, "How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed among them?" Numbers 14:11b. Moses interceded on the people's behalf saving them from God's wrath, but they suffered the consequences of the rebellion. Their fears and worries got to the best of them and God would not allow them into the land. Anyone 20 and older would die before the nation would be ushered in. Only their children would see this miraculous promise unfold. What a great lesson. If all we see is the negative, then the negative just may come to see us! But we have this hope:
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21 And...while some trust in the things of this world, remember this: "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord Our God." Psalm 20:7 Again..."Seek first HIS kingdom...and all of these things (provisions needed for you to live in His will) will be given to you." A prayer for today: "Two things I ask of you, O Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God." Proverbs 30:7-9