*** from: 100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart. ***

Date:   3/27/2017 7:36:58 AM ( 7 y ago)

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. —
Matthew 6:33

After ditching their plane in the Pacific during World War II, Captain Eddie Rickenbacker and his crew were adrift twenty-four days. Their ultimate survival was due, in large part, to a waterproof New Testament; and one of their most cherished passages was Matthew 6:31-34.
“That’s the best thing I’ve heard yet,” said one of the men, listening to this passage. “Read it again, Colonel.”

Matthew 6:19-34 is our Lord’s definitive teaching about the sin of worry. Once you memorize its core verse, Matthew 6:33, you’ll be leaning on it again and again, too.
Here’s an outline of the passage as it unfolds. Study it as you work on this great verse.

Worry indicates a defective value system (Matt. 6:19-25). There are more important issues than food, clothing, houses, and entertainment.

Worry indicates a defective self-image (Matt. 6:26). We’re more valuable than anything else God has made, including the birds of the air.

Worry indicates a defective way of thinking (Matt. 6:27). Anxiety doesn’t add one hour to our lives or one cubit to our height. It’s a useless exercise and an inefficient way of thinking.

Worry indicates a defective trust in God (Matt. 6:28-30). Faith is the ability to maintain inner strength by trusting in the promises of God amid the problems of life. We shouldn’t fall into the “you of little faith” camp.

Worry indicates a defective purpose in life (Matt. 6:31-33). If we take care of things that are important to God, He’ll take care of things that are important to us.

Anxiety indicates a defective view of tomorrow (Matt. 6:34). In this verse Jesus specifically tells us to deal with today’s issues and don’t worry about tomorrow’s.

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Rosalind Goforth, veteran missionary to China, wrote an uplifting little book entitled How I Know God Answers Prayer, in which she first tells of practicing this verse as a child. Easter Sunday came one year during a warm springtime, and everyone had put away their winter clothes.
Rosalind had no Easter dress, and she decided she’d rather stay home than wear her winter garb. Going to her room, she opened her Bible, and her eyes rested on Matthew 6:33.

“It was as if God spoke the words directly to me,” she said. Why worry about your clothes?
Seek first His kingdom. She put on her old dress and fought off a feeling of humiliation as she went to church. The Easter message touched her deeply; and the next day a box arrived from a distant aunt, containing not only new dresses but many other things as well.

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Seek ye first the Lord, and then He will provide for you everything that is profitable for you in this life and He will crown it with everything that is glorious in the life to come.
—Charles Spurgeon



 

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