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A Life of Abundance

Matthew 6:25-34 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 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? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor 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, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (NIV)

    Jesus brought this passage in Matthew to my mind this morning as I looked out at the birds in my yard. He reminded me of how much He loves me and wants to give me. If He cares for the birds and the flowers, how much more for me? Not just me, but all of His children! He isn't a God who wishes to give us just enough to get by, but a God of abundance. 

    It is our Father's desire that we be abundantly blessed. How do we inherit these blessings? We fix our eyes on Him and be obedient to His guiding. As discussed yesterday, we are considered a friend of God when we do what He has commanded. And He only leads us down the ways that are fruitful for us. It brings Him joy when we delight in Him and His ways. Love Him with all your heart and soul as His first commandment has said, and He will honor that. 

Matthew 22:36-38 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” (NIV)

    Oftentimes Jesus takes away the things that are obstructing our view of Him. He created us to love Him and to reflect His image on the earth. Unfortunately, it is human nature to love the gifts instead of the giver. Oftentimes He protects us from the things that take our eyes off Him because they will lead us to death. He is a merciful and loving Father. 

    If you wish to experience abundant blessings, as is God's will for our lives, let your heart be changed by Him. Ask that He would transform you so that you desire and love Him above all else. That is the reality we are called to live in and that is when we will experience His blessings.

John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (ESV)

Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (ESV)

Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (NIV)

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