Four invitations from Jesus
January 17th, 2021 – Communion Meditation
Matthew 6:24-34 (NLT) – the words of Christ Jesus, part of what is known as the Sermon on the Mount
24“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. 25“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 28“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? 31“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 34“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
As we reflect on this passage, I want us to notice 4 invitations from Jesus today. What other master are you tempted to serve? Perhaps it’s a person, a group, an ideology, a hobby, more things, something attractive, the power of influence, an addiction, a feeling. There are so many ways in which we can be pulled this way or that. Jesus invites us to serve God alone and to trust Him alone. Don’t worry about how your needs will be met. God will certainly care for you. Jesus invites us to consider the birds and the flowers, the beauty of creation that surrounds us. You are more valuable to God than anything else He has made. Jesus invites us to live in today, in the present moment. Don’t worry about what will happen tomorrow. God is Lord over every moment and He is present with you right now. He will give you everything you need. Jesus invites us to seek the Kingdom of God above all else and live righteously. We need to make only one choice at a time, the choice that better leads to God’s deepening His life in me. Christ is in us, the hope of glory. All glory to God.
On the night that he was betrayed he took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take, eat, this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.
In the same way, after supper he took the cup; and when he had given thanks to you, he gave it to them, saying, Drink this, all of you, for this is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.
Therefore, Father, with this bread and this cup we do as Christ your Son commanded: we remember his passion and death, we celebrate his resurrection and ascension, and we look for the coming of his kingdom. Accept through him, our great high priest, this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; and as we eat and drink these holy gifts, grant by the power of the life-giving Spirit that we may be made one in your holy Church and partakers of the body and blood of your Son, that he may dwell in us and we in him: Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, by whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory are yours, Almighty Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
