[ Today's Readings ]
We have such a need to be in control, don't we? We aren't yet perfected in grace which means we still have fear in our hearts, fear of loss, fear of pain, fear of hurt, and ultimately fear of death. We try to push this fear out of mind by control. But this never works out as well as we hope because our control is never perfect. It can't be.
“Today or tomorrow we shall go into such and such a town,
spend a year there doing business, and make a profit”–
you have no idea what your life will be like tomorrow.
You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears.
Instead you should say,
“If the Lord wills it, we shall live to do this or that.”
God offers us an adventure. We have peace to the degree that we leave things in his hands and don't try to control them. We cast our cares on him who cares for us (see First Peter 5:7).. With prayer and supplications we make our intentions known to God and the peace of Christ guards our hearts (see Philippians 4:6). Now we don't need to be overcome by comparison and jealousy.
“Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name,
and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.”
Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him.
There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name
who can at the same time speak ill of me.
It isn't supposed to matter if someone follows us, our ways, and our plans, as long as they are working in the name of Jesus. He is the one they should follow. Our wisdom ultimately gets us nowhere.
For he can see that wise men die,
and likewise the senseless and the stupid pass away,
leaving to others their wealth.
But those who trust in the LORD have peace.
Why should I fear in evil days
when my wicked ensnarers ring me round?
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