- Lesson 8 in the Connect360 unit “Kingdom Power: The Sermon on the Mount” focuses on Matthew 6:25-34.
Jesus reminded us that worry is a failure to trust God. In 6:32, he taught us that to be anxious about God’s provisions is to live like pagans (Gentiles).
The Psalmist David asked, “What is man that you take thought of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:4). When Jesus assured his listeners of God’s care for the birds, he then added, “Are you not worth much more than they?” (6:26). After His illustration of the lilies, he asked, “Will he not much more clothe you? You of little faith” (6:30)! Jesus challenged us to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,” and followed with the promise, “and all these things will be added to you” (6:33).
When Jesus taught us to pray, he gave us the privilege of addressing God as our Father (6:9). In Matthew 25, we learn of God’s immutable purposes of his cross, death, resurrection, ascension, return and judgment. In the great blessing of Ephesians 3:20–21, we read, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”
We can be assured of God’s love for us; “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation of our sins” (1 John 4:10).
In Romans 8:32, “He who did not spare his own Son, but delivered him over for us all, how will he not also with him freely give us all things?” Why should we allow worry to rob us of life, miss out on kingdom opportunities and shatter meaningful relationships when God promises to provide what we need?
Jesus taught us that we are to seek his kingdom and jis righteousness as our No. 1 priority in life. He promised in the Beatitudes, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (5:6).
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