April 19, 2020 (Sunday)
Matthew 6:34 quotes Jesus on a matter of great importance to each of us. As I researched this verse, I became impressed with several different translations of it. Please read them and see what you think:
KJV (King James Version) – Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
NIV (New International Version) – Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
MSG (The Message) – “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.
ESV (English Standard Version) – “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
CEV (Contemporary English Version) – Don’t worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. You have enough to worry about today
TLB (Living Bible) – “So don’t be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time.
The six translations listed above were selected from 68 English Translations on the web site, “Bible Gateway.” They all contain one central message: don’t worry about tomorrow. A secondary application is, “Live one day at a time.”
This quotation from Jesus, no matter which translation you choose, lets us know that Jesus does not want us to worry.
Jesus gives us clear examples of God’s loving care. He calls our attention to wildflowers, that few people ever see. The Lord, nonetheless, puts them there, makes them grow, and each exists as a thing of beauty without our help. The lesson from Jesus is, “If God takes care of wildflowers, don’t you think he will take care of you?”
He gave us other examples, like the birds. I remember the year we put a tray outside at the base of our window, and filled it with seed for the birds. A pair of cardinals built a nest a few feet away and raised their brood there. It was such a great pleasure to watch them lay eggs, incubate them, and hatch them. We watched as the parents fed the young birds, taught them to find food, and, finally, to force them on their way to find a mate, build a nest, and repeat the process. God instilled in them those techniques. What a blessing to have a front row seat for observing them.
One day I heard a pair of distressed cardinals in a backyard tree. I looked toward the sound and saw the pair fluttering up and down and making new sounds to call attention to their plight. Our cat had climbed the tree and was making his way toward the nest. A mockingbird heard the commotion and flew to their aid. He perched on a nearby branch, looked over the situation, then attacked the cat, which surrendered and scampered down the tree to the ground. After a few minutes, the cardinals settled down, the mockingbird flew away, and all was calm again. God has equipped his creatures to deal with every kind of need. They don’t worry. Why should you?
The main teaching of Jesus’ lessons in the Bible is that we should live one day at a time, unworried about tomorrow.
ONE DAY AT A TIME
Marijohn Wilkin and Kris Kristofferson
I’m only human, I’m just a woman.
Help me believe in what I could be
And all that I am.
Show me the stairway, I have to climb.
Lord for my sake, teach me to take
One day at a time.
One day at a time sweet Jesus
That’s all I’m asking from you.
Just give me the strength
To do everyday what I have to do.
Yesterday’s gone sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine.
Lord help me today, show me the way
One day at a time.
Do you remember, when you walked among men?
Well Jesus you know if you’re looking below
It’s worse now, than then.
Cheating and stealing, violence and crime
So for my sake, teach me to take
One day at a time.
One day at a time sweet Jesus
That’s all I’m asking from you.
Just give me the strength
To do everyday what I have to do.
Yesterday’s gone sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine.
Lord help me today, show me the way
One day at a time.