Oswald Chambers’ 26th Jan devotion is titled Look Again and Consecrate.
This devotion supports the goal of consecration to Yah by drawing from Mat6:26-30.
Oswald insightfully defines consecration as
“Consecration is the act of continually separating myself from everything except that which God has appointed me to do.”
This definition contains these precious truths –
1. Consecration is a lifelong pursuit.
2. Consecration is a process of doing Yah’s will, and not our will.
Mat 6:26-30 offers the basis for Oswald to identify that the cares of this world harm the goal of consecration.
This harm comes by way of worry of not having enough, and confusion as to why the much more of Mat 6:30 does not always translate to expected earthly provisions.
Oswald made this statement –
“How much time have we wasted asking God senseless questions while we should be absolutely free to concentrate on our service to Him? “
Here I would differ and say the questions about earthly needs (food, water, clothing as per Mat6) are not senseless. These are valid and legitimate questions.
This post seeks to explore how to integrate these questions with the assurance of much more of Mat 6:30.
The legitimacy of these earthly needs was endorsed by the Lord Jesus in Mat6:26-30. The believer can on the authority of the Lord’s words appeal to Yah concerning them.
The believer can adopt the persistence of the widow in Luke 18:1- 8 who seeks justice from an unrighteous judge, obtaining it by persevering. Yah the righteous Judge will surely respond favorably to the believer’s persistent appeal on the authoritative words of the Lord Jesus in Mat6:26-30.
For this reason, to ask for earthly needs is not senseless. But it is senseless concerning the following
1. Senseless to worry about the future outcomes which we cannot control. It is wiser to direct the limited resources to test Yah’s will Rom 12:22:2 as He presents the daily life circumstances that may meet the earthly needs.
The Lord echoed the same sentiments to live each day, focusing on today’s challenges in Mat 6:34.
“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Mat 6:34).
2. Senseless to complain about things we cannot control. It is wiser to ask the Holy Spirit to supply the sufficient grace of the Lord Jesus of 2Cor 2:19 to bear the suffering, and to receive wisdom, and understanding of Yah’s will (Col1:9) to test His will.
Conclusion
Oswald sums up the crux of Mat6:26-30’s as follows
“Jesus said that if you have the right relationship with Him (Yah) and will obey His Spirit within you, then God will care for your “feathers” too.”
The Lord Jesus clarified in Mat 6:36 that Yah’s will and the Holy Spirit focus on Kingdom goals and righteousness. Read Mat5-7, the sermon on the mount for details of these Kingdom goals and righteousness.
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Mat6:33)
God cares for the believer’s eternal destiny as His primary focus, that they first seek and be faithful to qualify to enter into His Kingdom.
Let’s align our prayers with Yah’s focus even as we present to Him the earthly needs of food, water, and clothing/shelter.
Let’s also not also be self-deceived that Yah cannot differentiate between man’s needs and their insatiable wants.