In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus speaks about the birds of the air and the lilies of the field, urging us not to worry about our material needs.

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:26).

Similarly, He points to the lilies, “They do not labor or spin, yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these” (Matthew 6:28-29).

Jesus’ words remind us that if God takes such care in providing for the birds and adorning the lilies with beauty, how much more will He care for His children? These simple creatures, which neither toil nor fret, live in complete trust in the provision of their Creator. Jesus calls us to do the same.

Martin Luther, in his reflections on these passages, makes an insightful observation: the birds teach us about dependence on God, and the lilies, with their beauty, serve as theologians. He writes, “The birds are our teachers, and the lilies are our theologians.” Their simple, serene existence challenges us to embrace faith without anxiety. The birds, with their joyful songs, and the lilies, with their vibrant blooms, gently embarrass us with their unwavering trust in God.

Luther further explained that when we fail to trust God for our provisions and cannot praise Him, we fall short even of the birds and lilies of the field. We are created with far more complexity and greater talents. The birds, though they do not store up in barns, freely fly wherever they wish, confident that God will provide for them.

We, too, must rest in God’s provision and be clothed in the peace that He offers.

God bless!

In today’s chaotic world, one thing that people really lack is peace, the real peace in their heart and in their life. The coming and birth of Christ heralded in real peace. It was prophesied eight centuries before he was born that the prince of Peace will come and bring real peace on earth.

Eight centuries before Christ was born, prophet Isaiah prophesied that Christ will be born and one of the blessings he brings forth will be PEACE. In fact, prophet Isaiah tells us that he will be called Prince of Peace.

When Christ was born, angels announced the birth of Christ to the shepherds and declared rightly to the Shepherds tending their flocks at night proclaming that Peace will rest on who the favour of God rests (Luke 2:14).

When Christ grew up and started teaching people, he said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27).

Christ meant that the peace he gives us is something that one cannot get in this world, it is not there.

Because, true peace comes from being in peace with God which no man can have unless Christ comes and makes peace between man and God. His death on the cross was to make peace between man and God.

Therefore, the Holy Scripture tells us that we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1).

When one repents of their sins and turns to God, knowing that Christ’s death was to pay for one’s sins, there will be new peace in a person’s life. This peace will guard one’s heart and mind and this peace, no one can steal and it is Christ’s precious work to bring peace on earth.

Kindly remember that there is no peace for the wicked (Isaiah 48:22).

Sins and wickedness are offend to God and there will be no peace when a person lives in sin or wicknedness. But Christ came and died to tear down the dividing wall.

The Holy Scripture tells us again, “For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility (Ephesians 2:14)

Receive Christ into your heart and may you have the amazing peace of God within you.

May you have the peace of God by receiving Christ into your life. Amen.

5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

Paul’s attitude and philosophy of his mission work are clearly stated in this verse; he served and worked as “a servant of Christ.” A servant, doulos in Greek, was a term Paul used to indicate his self-identity as he served the Lord.

A voluntary life of devotion and sacrifice for God’s Kingdom was a basis of every work he did. He confessed, “Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.” (1 Corinthians 9:19)

Paul’s portrait of his own identity is a mandate to everyone who follows the life of a believer. Once you are saved, you have absolute freedom to choose a way of life. With the new life born through Christ’s blood, Paul “made himself a slave to everyone” to preach the gospel and advance God’s Kingdom.

When this identity collapses, a crisis comes to the believers’ life, diverting them to demand God’s reward and blaming others for their own choice. Although dedication of one’s life to God’s Kingdom begins with one’s free will and voluntary devotion, loss of this mindset as “doulos” can quickly blind our heart and mislead us into a meaningless conflict with secular values such as money, fame, or vain ambitions.

Paul said, “We do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord.” “I make myself a slave to everyone.”

The fact that his life was driven by this belief was exposed in many parts of the New Testament. Rather than receiving, he considered giving as a greater blessing (Acts 20:35). Even in times of deficiency, he led his team to fundraise from churches in order to help and support the church in Jerusalem that was suffering from a severe famine.

Paul was strictly dogmatic, however, strategically practical and forward-looking. Not only teaching and preaching, Paul provided substantive money and funds for the poor, practicing the love of Christ voluntarily.

In Christ, there is nothing impossible for believers who desire to practice this love for others. We are in an era that even Christians are sold by money, being tested or discouraged in material temptations. Through the lips of the prophet Isaiah, God said, “To which of my creditors did I sell you?” (Isaiah 50:1) However, countless believers surrender to the force of money and discredit their conviction in Christ.

Paul’s courageous and daring model of self-support and self-reliance should speak strongly to modern churches to release many who are bound by a trap of fear in money or secular values. This Early Church method will revive when we inherit Paul’s spirit: “Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.”