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Rejoicing in the Lord
77
not fear; there are no dangers in your path.” He knows there are
problems and dangers, and He tells us so. He does not say He will
take His people out of this world of sin and evil, but He points us to
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a never-failing place of safety.
Jesus’ prayer for His disciples was “I do not ask you to take them
out of the world, but I do ask you to keep them safe from the Evil
One.”
John 17:15
. Jesus said, “The world will make you suffer. But
be brave! I have defeated the world.”
John 16:33
.
In His sermon on the mount, Christ taught His disciples precious
lessons about their need to trust in God. These lessons were also
to help all of God’s children. They have come down to our time to
bring us help and comfort.
The Saviour spoke of the birds of the air. He said that the birds
sing their songs of praise without worrying about their needs. “They
do not plant seeds, gather a harvest and put it in barns; yet your
Father in heaven takes care of them.” The Saviour asked, “Aren’t
you worth much more than birds?”
Matthew 6:26
.
The great Father opens His hands and gives enough for the needs
of all His creatures. The birds of the air are always in His thoughts.
He does not drop food into their bills, but He provides for all their
needs. They must gather the grain He has scattered for them. They
must find what they need to build their nests and feed their young.
The birds sing as they hunt for their food. They sing because our
“Father in heaven takes care of them.” Are not we who are able to
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worship God of more value than the birds of the air? Will not our
Creator, the One who keeps us alive, also care for us? He who made
us will give us everything we need if we trust Him.
Christ spoke of the flowers of the field. The heavenly Father
made the beautiful flowers to show His love for His earthly children.
Christ said, “Look how the wild flowers grow!” The simple beauty
of these wildflowers was more attractive than the splendid robes of
King Solomon. The most beautiful clothes that people can make
cannot compare with the grace and shining beauty of the flowers of
God’s creation.
Jesus said, “It is God who clothes the wild grass—grass that is
here today and gone tomorrow, burned up in the oven. Won’t he be
all the more sure to clothe you? What little faith you have!”
Matthew
6:30
.