Word@Work Luke207 - Luke 12:27-28
Published: Thu, 10/07/10
Word@Work from BeaconLight
BEAUTIFUL NECESSITIES
Luke 12:27-28 "Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! (NIV)
Worry takes all the colour out of life. Jesus was teaching His disciples why worry is totally inappropriate in His Kingdom - because God will provide all that is needed to keep us going each day. And those gifts are not just functional, they are also beautiful. By using the flowers as an analogy of clothing, Jesus stretched the trainee apostles to think beyond the basic clothing requirements of modesty and warmth - to beauty, splendour and glory.
God does provide gloriously! That is more than an adequate quantity and average quality. Because God's nature is set in glory, all that He does is glorious and reflects the multi-faceted beauty of His character. We should not be surprised that the natural world is stunningly beautiful at both macro and micro levels, because it is God's handiwork. If God works like that in the inanimate geo-physical world which cannot intelligently praise Him, how much more will He delight in providing for His children in lovely, wonderful, attractive, beautiful and delightful ways which will excite our minds, emotions and spirits to praise Him.
God is not grey! As pure white light is refracted into a rainbow of colours by a prism, so everything God does for us has His mark of beauty; and clothing is just one example. Some may say, "What's the point; why does God bother to decorate His gifts?" It is simply in His nature. He wants to draw our attention to His glory and delight us with His provision. Of course, those who live in the monotone world of worry will not notice, or they might even complain that others find Him more attractive than they do. But those whose faith has grasped that God is love will also grasp that God is beautiful light ... and in Him is no greyness at all. As you look for the Lord's divine artistry in every provision, praise will transform your outlook in every circumstance; and others around you will have a reason to be drawn to your Saviour.
Prayer: Wonderful God. Thank You for this reminder of Your glory which I will fully see when Jesus returns. Until then, I praise You for every sample of Your nature in creation and the personally decorated gifts You send me each day. Please forgive me for staring at You through the grey fog of my worry, taking no pleasure in You and not even recognising the many ways in which You are blessing me. Help me to be looking out for Your colourful signature on every provision and to praise You for every good gift. May my attitudes in life be transformed as I receive Your life and delight in Your light, that my friends and colleagues will desire to know You for themselves. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
Worry takes all the colour out of life. Jesus was teaching His disciples why worry is totally inappropriate in His Kingdom - because God will provide all that is needed to keep us going each day. And those gifts are not just functional, they are also beautiful. By using the flowers as an analogy of clothing, Jesus stretched the trainee apostles to think beyond the basic clothing requirements of modesty and warmth - to beauty, splendour and glory.
God does provide gloriously! That is more than an adequate quantity and average quality. Because God's nature is set in glory, all that He does is glorious and reflects the multi-faceted beauty of His character. We should not be surprised that the natural world is stunningly beautiful at both macro and micro levels, because it is God's handiwork. If God works like that in the inanimate geo-physical world which cannot intelligently praise Him, how much more will He delight in providing for His children in lovely, wonderful, attractive, beautiful and delightful ways which will excite our minds, emotions and spirits to praise Him.
God is not grey! As pure white light is refracted into a rainbow of colours by a prism, so everything God does for us has His mark of beauty; and clothing is just one example. Some may say, "What's the point; why does God bother to decorate His gifts?" It is simply in His nature. He wants to draw our attention to His glory and delight us with His provision. Of course, those who live in the monotone world of worry will not notice, or they might even complain that others find Him more attractive than they do. But those whose faith has grasped that God is love will also grasp that God is beautiful light ... and in Him is no greyness at all. As you look for the Lord's divine artistry in every provision, praise will transform your outlook in every circumstance; and others around you will have a reason to be drawn to your Saviour.
Prayer: Wonderful God. Thank You for this reminder of Your glory which I will fully see when Jesus returns. Until then, I praise You for every sample of Your nature in creation and the personally decorated gifts You send me each day. Please forgive me for staring at You through the grey fog of my worry, taking no pleasure in You and not even recognising the many ways in which You are blessing me. Help me to be looking out for Your colourful signature on every provision and to praise You for every good gift. May my attitudes in life be transformed as I receive Your life and delight in Your light, that my friends and colleagues will desire to know You for themselves. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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