Sunday 8th September
Read Matthew 6:41
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (NIVUK)
This concern to let tomorrow sort itself out, that we should focus only on the present – not the past or the future – is advice we often can’t hear. We stew on things that happened in the past, letting them gnaw away at our happiness today. Equally, future events can consume us with worry. We can’t store grace up for the future.
It is true that we are saved, once for all, by believing that Jesus death on the cross is sufficient for us – past, present and future. It is equally true that we must grasp hold of the grace offered to us from the cross each and every day. Jesus encouraged His followers to take up their cross daily. We are taught to pray by our Lord in much the same way.
“‘This, then, is how you should pray:
‘“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.” (Matthew 6:9-13) (NIVUK)
At the heart of the prayer is a petition to give us today’s bread. Not tomorrow’s bread. Each and every day we are to live as if it were our last and in faith believe that God is sufficient to meet the needs of that day. It is a perspective that Jesus wants us to remember, each and every day.
