APRIL 14, 2015
Don’t Worry!
Read:
1
Peter 5:1-11
Casting
all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. —1 Peter 5:7
George Burns, American
actor and humorist, said, “If you ask, ‘What is the single most important key
to longevity?’ I would have to say it is avoiding worry, stress, and tension.
And if you didn’t ask me, I’d still have to say it.” Burns, who lived to be
100, enjoyed making people laugh, and apparently followed his own advice.
But how can we keep from worrying when our lives are so
uncertain, so filled with problems and needs? The apostle Peter offered this
encouragement to the followers of Jesus who had been forcibly scattered across Asia
during the first century: “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that
He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for
you” (1 Peter 5:6-7).
Peter’s instructions were not given to help us avoid suffering
(v.9), but so we can find peace and power to stand victorious against the
attacks of Satan (vv.8-10). Instead of being consumed by anxiety and worry, we
are set free to enjoy God’s love for us and express it to each other.
Our goal should not be to see how many years we can live but
instead to live fully in loving service to the Lord for all the years we are
given.
Lord, I admit that I take things into my own hands and worry.
That weighs my spirit down and sometimes robs my nights of rest. Lift the
heaviness from my heart as I lean into You.
I will never think of anything that [God, my
Father,] will forget, so why should I worry? —Oswald Chambers
INSIGHT: Peter’s words in verses 1-3 are a challenge
to those who serve in shepherding ministries—that is, as pastors or spiritual
leaders. He reminds us that those who serve as shepherds are to reflect the
heart of the good, great, and chief Shepherd—Jesus (see John 10).
Source: Our Daily Bread 2012
