Ordinary Time: Monday, October 1, 2007

Old Testament Lesson

2 Kings 7

One of the things we see over and over in the Bible is the provision of God for His people. We don't always seen things go easily or well, but in the end, God is always at work for good, and always working for the good of His people. Today, the word was proclaimed that it would all work out the next day, and some did not believe it. But, it did.

Quite often we hear words of encouragement in our darkest hours; folks say, it will all work out the end. And we don't believe. We can only see the darkness all around. We can't see the hope. But, as sure as God lives, there is hope. For God is not done with us yet, and there is still much good that He longs to do in our lives. The people of Israel saw God's mighty hand in their lives. May we have the grace of God to see that same in our lives.

New Testament Lesson

1 Corinthians 7:25-31

Paul gives us some words here in regards to family life. The one thing that Paul wants us to do in all of our relationships on the earth is to keep God primary. Paul wants us to worry more about God and being faithful to Him than anything else. That may sound a little harsh to our ears, but it does make sense.

How? For me to be the husband, or father, or pastor, or friend, or son that I need to be, I must place God first in my life. If He is not first, everything else will fall astray. Only when He takes the first place in my life can everything be as it should. That is the great point that Paul is trying to tell us this morning. Keep God first.

Gospel Lesson

Matt 6:25-34

Jesus tells us much the same as the above two passages today. Don't worry about what you will wear or what you will eat. Doesn't the Lord take care of the lilies? Won't He take care of us as well. Keep (and seek) Him first, and all these things will be added. When we chase happiness in other things, we find ourselves empty. But, when we chase life in God, we find more life, more joy, more peace, than we can ever imagine. So, in seeking Him first, we find everything that we could ever need.