Important lessons from Jesus
From the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 6, verses 24-34
One day a lot of people came to a big green field to hear what Jesus had to say about God. Jesus talked with them for a long time. He told them many important things. This is one thing he told them:
"I know that you worry about many things: if you will be able to pay your bills; if you will have enough food to eat; if the clothes you wear make you look good. I know that sometimes these things worry you so much that you stop trusting in God.
"Don't do that!
Trust that God is always watching out for you. Believe that God wants what is best for you. Know for certain that God will always love you, no matter what you do, or what you think, or what you say."
"How do you know that, Jesus?" someone in the crowd asked.
Jesus smiled and looked up at the blue sky. "Well," he said, "look at the birds flying free in the sky above us. They are just little creatures, but yet God takes care of them. Certainly God will make sure that you will have what you need, too."
Then he spread his arms out wide and turned around slowly. "And look at the wildflowers growing in the field around you. Aren't they beautiful? To God, you are beautiful, too. It really doesn't matter how fancy or expensive your clothes are. God loves the way you look already."
Jesus continued speaking. "You don't have to worry about your life because God is always helping you with it. In fact, God knows what is best for you, even if you don't know what is best for you yet.
"You belong in God's kingdom of love. Do what you can every day to help others feel like they belong in God's kingdom, too. If you do that, your friendship with God will get stronger and stronger, and you will learn to trust that God will help you with everything you have to face in your life."
Questions to think and pray about:
I wonder if you have ever felt as free as a bird.
I wonder if someone has ever told you that you are beautiful. I wonder if you believed it.
I wonder what you and God talk about.
I wonder how God is helping you now.