On the Mount

Someone asked about my highlight here in Israel today. And that's a hard question to answer!

But if you're asking....

...it was walking on the traditional place where they believe Jesus gave his "Sermon on the Mount".

While we don't know for sure if it was on this hill, we know it was somewhere in the vicinity. And therefore my imagination can take over!

I felt myself wondering as we walked, "What would I have been feeling if I'd been on my way to hear Jesus teach? Would I have heard him before? Or would it be my first time? What would the circumstances be in my life that would've led me to go hear him? Curiosity? Personal need? What would I have been expecting or wanting??"

Our group stopped in a shady place along the way to listen to Dave as he stepped into Jesus' shoes for a few minutes, to make the teaching of Jesus even more real for us.

Quoting passages from Jesus' words, he said, "Why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

As we sat listening, I could feel a leap in my spirit, being drawn to Jesus' words! I could feel that Jesus was not speaking religiously or philosophically...but personally...to me...and to everyone there.

Why DO I worry?? If God can clothe this land in his beauty, and care for the birds of the air, how will he not take care of me or those I love???

Jesus is so deep, and yet so personal and practical! He knows my weakness, and yet he also has an answer for me!

Seek first HIS kingdom...

That's it! Be concerned first about what He is concerned about. And after that, ALL things will be added to me.

It's not a hard principle to live by in theory. But oh how we fight against it in real life!

But today, I again leave behind my worries and remember the flowers and the birds, that I saw and heard with my own eyes and ears today, and put all of my faith and trust in the One who holds it all.

If He asks me, "Where is your faith?", I'll tell him, "It's in you alone Jesus."