October 29 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Luke 12:22-40:

²²And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
²³The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
²⁴Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
²⁵And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
²⁶If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
²⁷Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
²⁸If then God so clothe the grass, which is today in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
²⁹And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
³⁰For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
³¹But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
³²Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
³³Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
³⁴For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
³⁵Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
³⁶And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
³⁷Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
³⁸And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
³⁹And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
⁴⁰Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

Devotional

It was in the spring of the year. The birds had returned from the south. A snowstorm came in the night. The next morning the sun shone bright, but the snow covered the ground. Where should the birds get something to eat? On the east side of the house, where the sun had melted some of the snow, a robin hopped around. He stopped. He listened, and suddenly pulled out an earthworm out of the ground, and ate it for his breakfast. Who directed the robin to his food? It was God the mighty Creator, the great Provider, who openeth his hand and satisfieth the desire of every living thing.

Why are we humans so full of anxious care? Why do we worry and say, What shall we eat? or what shall we drink? The birds know no such worry, and they have no barns nor store houses to lay up food. Yet, our heavenly Father feeds them. "He giveth food to the young ravens which cry." If God feeds the birds of the air, will he not take care of his children. Christ asks, "How much more are ye better than fowls?"

Moreover, what good does it do us to be full of anxiety? We cannot cause a blade of grass to grow, nor a kernel of wheat to ripen. May we then learn from the birds to trust God for our food. And may we daily pray in faith: "Give us this day our daily bread."

Prayer

Our Father in heaven, Creator and Upholder of all things, and the Sustainer of our lives, we thank Thee for Thy kind providence over us, for Thy fatherly love with which Thou dost surround us from day to day. When Thou dost richly bless us, may we not forget Thee; and when Thou in Thy wisdom dost withhold blessings from us, may we still trust Thee, know­ing that Thou wilt give what is good for us. And so may we serve Thee in all humility of heart, and praise Thy name for all Thy benefits. And graciously pardon all of our sins. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: Ps. 145:16; Matt. 6:26; Ps. 147:9; Luke 12:24.

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