Attention Please
Matthew 6:25-34 (The Message)
25"If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. 26Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.
27"Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? 28All this time and money wasted on fashion--do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, 29but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best--dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.
30"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers--most of which are never even seen--don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? 31What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. 32People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. 33Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
34"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.
Introduction: You know sometimes we can get so caught up in worrying about yesterday and tomorrow that we miss what God is trying to do today. Someone has once said that the average person is crucifying himself between two thieves: The regrets of yesterday and the worries about tomorrow.
Some of you have come in here tonight with worries about school, money, family, health, and even eternity. You’re worried but things you’ve done in the past, or what people think of you…Your worried about making the football team, or passing Calculus, or getting a date for the school dance…Your worried about getting a job, paying your cell phone bill, buying a car, and applying for college.
Tonight I believe that God is trying desperately to get our attention…almost slapping us in the face like the video…and help us to relax and see his plan. So let’s give God our attention to what He is doing now.
reality check: something that clarifies or serves as a reminder of reality often by correcting a misconception
1. God-Reality: The quality or state of being real
a. He loves us unconditionally
b. We need His righteousness (right standing w/ God, free from guilt)
c. His righteousness should be our #1 priority (seek first)
2. God-Initiative: an introductory step (to get the ball rolling)
a. He has a plan for you! (Jer. 29:11)
b. YOU need to take the initiative to seek His Kingdom
i. Submission to kingdom principles
ii. Spread the Word
iii. Invest in His Kingdom
3. God-Provision: the fact or state of being prepared beforehand
a. God is never caught off guard
b. He will supply all our needs – Phil. 4:19
c. Nothing is impossible with God – Phil. 4:13
