God the Provider

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Opening Prayer:  Dear Father, I admit that I often forget that you are with me. I often forget what you’re like. Would you please forgive me for that? I need to get to know you better. I need to get to know your Word and your promises better. Help me to put you first in every area of my life.[1]  In Christ’s name, the Provider, I pray, Amen.

Today’s Bible Verse: Read Matthew 6:

Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life (Matthew 6:25-27)?

Associated Scriptures:

And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19, NASB).

Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. (1 Chronicles 29:12)?

The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; But they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing (Psalm 34:10, NASB).

Supportive Quotes:

The area of need explored by these words is not incidental but basic. It is a question of food, clothing, and shelter. Jesus' argument is that God who made man and gave him life will also provide him with the means to sustain it, reinforcing his argument by the fact that God does this very thing for the lower creation.[2] – James Coffman

Since ye cannot serve both God and "mammon", obey one, and neglect the other.[3] – John Gill

The argument is: God gave the life, and it is higher than food. If he gave it, he will see that it is sustained, if you trust in him. So, too, he made the body. He will see that it is clothed.[4] – Burton W. Johnson

Biblical Analysis:

God is Jehovah-Jireh.  This name means “the God who provides.” Just as He provided yesterday, He will also provide today and tomorrow.[5]

Happiness lies more in the mind than it does in the circumstances in which any individual is found, and the man within has far more to do with his own joy or sorrow than anything outside of him has.[6] – Charles Spurgeon

God is our cool breeze in the heat of a summer day.  He is our spring of clear and pure water in a parched and barren land.  He is the rest that follows a pressurized, repressive day.  He is closer than a friend in times of desperate loneliness.  He is our sustenance when we hunger.  God provides for His children.  He supplies the needs of those who live an upright or blameless life (Psalm 84:11).

True believers know in their hearts and minds that God loves them beyond measure and that He is in control of all things.  Still, we worry.  Why?  The answer is not simple, but it is easy to say, “We don’t trust God thoroughly.”  Oh, we trust Him with our salvation.  True believers know that their salvation is secure in Him (Romans 8:38-39).  We know that He will comfort us in times of sorrow and grief.  However, during those times when we are unsure of events of the future, we, having our doubts, don’t give Him our full trust.  Worry is the result and it is sin (Philippians 4:6).

We trust God when we are in trouble.  We ask for His direction when we are lost.  We ask God for help when we are tested.  We seek His guidance when our backs are up against the wall.  We want His help at a point of crisis.  However, we will struggle since we don’t walk with God every moment of each day as He commands us (Ephesians 2:10 and 1 Thessalonians 5:19).

So, how do we learn to trust Him completely?  The answer is as simple as the question.  Trust in God comes from the assurance of our salvation and the promises in His Word. He directs those who will trust Him (Proverbs 3:5-6, 1 Thessalonians 5:24).  God forgives the penitent (1 John 1:9).  He is faithful to the faithful (Psalm 18:25).  God deserves thanks for His constant faithfulness (Psalm 100:5 and Psalm 150).  God is faithful to us through calamity (Lamentations 3:22-23).  He faithfully matures believers (Ephesians 4:13-15).

Spiritual Application:

God is our provider.  He is the Savior of our soul’s. Since God loves us, died for us, and provided eternal life for us, we should not worry or be concerned about our future.  Because God is faithful to us, we must trust Him to always keep His promises.  We can’t allow the temptations of this world to break our fellowship with God.  “Remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience.  God is faithful.  He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that we can’t stand up against it.  When we are tempted, He will show us a way out so that we will not give in to it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13, NLT).

Lesson Within the Lesson:

Explain how we are to react to God considering His provision.  Read and discuss Genesis 22:9-14.

Discuss the results of God’s provision as described in Psalm 112:6-8.

Where do we find the power to resist worry in our lives?  Read 2 Timothy 1:7.

What do Psalm 36:6, Psalm 119:90, and Hebrews 10:23 tell us about God’s faithfulness, and how does that provision bring us comfort daily?

[1] Rick Warren, A Prayer to Stop Worrying, © Crosswalk.com, All Rights Reserved, crosswalk.com/devotionals/your-daily-prayer/a-prayer-to-stop-worrying-your-daily-prayer-january-2-2017.html

[2] James Burton Coffman. "Commentary on Matthew 6:25". "Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament". Abilene Christian University Press, Abilene, Texas, USA. 1983-1999.

[3] John Gill, "Commentary on Matthew 6:25". "The New John Gill Exposition of the Entire Bible” Ibid.

[4] Barton W. Johnson, "Commentary on Matthew 6:25". "People's New Testament, Ibid.

[5] Praying the Names and Attributes of God, © 2017 The Navigators, All Rights Reserved, navigators.org/resource/praying-names-attributes-god/

[6] Charles Spurgeon, Charles Spurgeon Quotes on Anxiety, Fear, and Worry, © 2015 Cross-points.org, cross-points.org/charles-spurgeon-quotes-on-anxiety-fear-and-worry/.