"Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?" Matthew 6:27 (KJV)

Prior to this question, Jesus Christ has just finished delivering the Sermon on the Mount to his disciples and the multitude. 

And at the beginning of this chapter from the Gospel of Matthew, he cautioned them on the manner of giving alms, praying - taught the people the Lord's prayer, how to fast properly and how to lay up treasures in heaven. He also made mention of not serving two masters.

The question was also a rebuke and a challenge of whether to trust in God or trust in mammon. Mammon being defined as treasure or riches. The word is of Aramaic origin pertaining to confidence, "wealth personified"; another variation is mammonas that is avarice deified.

Thus we see here the question is whether "taking thought" can add one cubit to our stature meant if by being trouble with cares or seeking to promote one's interests will add to our physical height - literally - the answer is definitely "no". 

When a person worries, that person loses trust in God because he is troubled by his self insufficiency. He/ she fails to see a God who provides and instead acknowledges a week man/ woman that needs to earn more, know more, be more than others.

What are the things people were taking though of according to Jesus Christ as written in that same chapter? 

They were worried about FOOD and CLOTHING.

Jesus further told them that if the birds of the air neither reap or gather in a storehouse yet they are fed by God the Father and not one of them falls to the ground without the knowledge of God in his care, how much more will God take care of man's own needs for food.

Solomon in all his glory as king was never clothed in the majestic fibers of the lilies of the field and though these get burned in the end, their beauty surpasses the king's wardrobe.

Food and clothing are the things that the Gentiles - non-Jews - worry about. 

The Jew must believe in the God of Israel who have set them apart as his people. They have seen the power of God - from their captivity in Egypt, their freedom, the capture of Canaan, their captivity in Babylon and their return. They have a God - Jehovah Jireh who provides for all their needs.

As believers in Jesus Christ, we declare that he is the only begotten son of God sent to save us from sin and in believing by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, we shall have everlasting life and enjoy the benefits of being adopted children, joint heirs with Israel.

In great wisdom, Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 6:8, "And having FOOD and RAIMENT (clothing) let us be therewith CONTENT", we should have no other concern in this world. (Emphasis mine.)

Our food and clothing are needs our God in heaven knows. He will provide. 

The prayer Jesus Christ taught us asks - Our Father...give us this day our DAILY bread. Come to God the Father for your daily needs.

If we can trust the Lord for the salvation of our souls, from the destruction of the fiery pits of hell. Can we trust him for our DAILY BREAD?

If the answer is YES, we can trust him for such provisions then "therefore take no thought, saying What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?"

In application, come to God the Father each day and PRAY. Ask him to provide your needs. If you can trust him with your soul, can you trust him with your body? If you can trust him with something you can not see and believe, is it harder to have him work on the things see?

God bless you dear reader.

"Where Art Thou?" Genesis 3:9 (KJV)

So often, man has questions for God.

The purpose of these series of writing is to focus on the Questions from God. 

These are questions that God has asked different people in the Bible and look at the reasons behind them, what tells us about God based on his questions and how should we apply these to our daily walk.

The first question that God asked in the Bible is this – WHERE ART THOU?

Who was he looking for?

He was looking for Adam, the first man. The man he created in his image and likeness, the man whom he formed from the dust of the earth and breathed life into. The man whom he placed in the middle of the garden of Eden to have dominion and take charge of all his creations.

What happened to Adam? He fell into sin. The sin of disobedience. He ate from the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He disobeyed the command of God. Upon eating the fruit, it was then that Adam (and Eve) discovered they were naked and felt ashamed of their nakedness. Notice that prior to their downfall, both man and woman were already naked yet they had no malice in their hearts. Seeing their nakedness, they made clothes from plants.

And upon hearing God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, they hid themselves from God. Though they were clothed, they still felt the shame of their sin and felt they were unworthy to come and meet God.

But God asked – Adam, where art thou?

This shows us that God longs for that time to walk with Adam and have fellowship with him. God sought man though man hid from him.

In meeting God and informing him that he was ashamed because he was naked, then God inquired how did he come to know he was naked and further questioned him if he had eaten from the forbidden tree.

Instead of admitting to the error, the blame game was invented. Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent.

Ultimately, the command was given to Adam. Adam is responsible.

For this sin, Adam faced the consequence of tilling the ground, to work hard for his food, Eve will face the pains of giving birth and the serpent will move upon its belly and there will be enmity between the son of man and the serpent. Though the serpent may browse the heel of the son of man, the son of man will crush the serpent’s head. This of course pertains to the coming Messiah, the Savior, Jesus Christ.

This question shows that God SEEKS to save those that are LOST.

He is interested to regain the relationship, the fellowship with man and restore the WALK, the special time together between man and God.

In application, do you hear God asking you this question?

Does he ask WHERE ART THOU son/ daughter?

He is only a prayer away.
If you feel ashamed because of the nakedness of your sin, put on the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Accept him as your Lord and Savior – this is not a religion but a restoration of the relationship breached by sin.

Let the blood of Jesus Christ cleanse you of sin and grant you boldness to come to the throne of grace of the Living God and there find rest, find peace.

Be where God is.

God Bless You, dear reader.