Day 14: Giving What You Don’t Have – Do Not Be Anxious

Day 14: Mark 14, 15, 16; Luke 1, 2

We’ve all gone through those moments – strapped for cash, bills to pay.  It sometimes leads to not having anything to give for offering.  However, this is the wrong way to go about giving freely to Christ.  A very poignant verse that rang true while reading this morning was when Jesus was anointed in Bethany.  It was not about frugality, waste or efficiency.  It was about someone doing what she could – no matter the cost, to serve her Lord.

Mark 14:6-8 (New International Version)

⁶“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. ⁷The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. ⁸She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.

Yet Christ was victim to anxiety as well.  However, He lifted those anxieties and worries to His Father and left with the most powerful statement.  ³⁶“Abba,^[a] Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will. Mark 14:36

Mark 14:34-36 (New International Version)

³⁴“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” ³⁵Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. ³⁶“Abba,^[a] Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Father, I seek your forgiveness and compassion.  As I strive to lead a more personal relationship with you.  I fall, I become anxious and I look to earthly matters to console such sorrow.  I pray that as I develop this relationship, that I may truly be able to freely say those words that Christ said in Gethsamane.

Day 4: Come to me and I will give you rest

Day 4: Matthew 10, 11, 12

²⁸“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

How magnificent is this verse? Can anyone deny that this is how they feel at times?  Yet, in Matthew 11:28 – 30, Christ instructs what we are to do when are weary and burdened.  The life on this earth is temporary and fleeting.  Yet, we put so much power into something that matters so little.  We worry about our material possessions (or lack thereof), money, houses and other people.  We become anxious without any relent in sight.

Yet, what does Christ ask us to do?  He asks us to come to him.  That’s all.  Come to him in prayer – leave all of your human burdens aside.  In light of my recent unemployment venture, I can admit I was burdened and anxious 24/7.  I sought the answer in prayer.  I can admit that on the days that I sought peace (which should have been everyday but regretfully hasn’t been) that I found myself not worrying about it.  It was an amazing feeling.  I felt like I needed to be anxious and worried but I wasn’t.  Does Christ not ask “How much more valuable is a man than a sheep!” (Matthew 12:12)?  I hope that as I continue to delve into His word, that I may truly be able to become a tree that bears good fruit.