Key scripture – “And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!” (Luke 12:22-24).

The key scripture for today from the Word of God comes from Luke 12, where we find the Gospel about the ravens. The subject of their sermon is security and I am sure that is an issue that all of us have reason to be concerned about right now.

Jesus has just told a parable about a man whose idea of security echoes that of almost everyone around us.

“And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:16-21)

The man in the parable had a lot of crops to take care of, and he said in Luke 12:18, “I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to myself, ‘You have plenty of good things laid up for many years.'” Doesn’t that sound like our world’s concept of security. “What have you got in your bank account? What have you got to fall back on? What have you got in your IRA? What have you got for retirement? What have you got in case medical emergencies come up?”

Then here comes the message in the Bible and Jesus uses the ravens to teach us beginning at verse 22, “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body what you will wear. Life is more than food and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap. They have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable are you than birds!”

I love these simple words, “They have no storeroom, yet God feeds them.” And then He says, “If He’ll do that for the ravens, He’ll surely do that for you.” Now, we live in a world that says surplus equals security. But Jesus says, “Our security is this: We have a Father who is a great provider. That’s where your security is; not what you have in your storeroom.”

Jesus then goes on to talk about how the pagans are chasing after things and after material security from this world.

“And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.” (Luke 12:29-31).

But He says, “You seek His kingdom, and then sell what you have and give to the poor, and pass on the kingdom to other people.” You’re secure. Not because you can see where it’s going to come from, but because of who your Father is.

“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
(Luke 12:32-34).

In fact, I wonder if some day if Jesus isn’t going to say to a lot of us, “What are you doing sitting on all of that? Why do you have so much in your storeroom? Why didn’t you believe that your Father in Heaven would take care of you and provide for you?”

See, we are Father-fed people. We don’t need big reserves. We’re to feed others with the gifts that He’s given to us. You don’t ever have to worry about having enough.

In fact, God used the ravens to prove to Elijah and us that God will always find a way to meet the needs of His children. When every other source of security and supply was cut off from Elijah, the ravens brought it to him.

“Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: ‘Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.’ So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.” (1 Kings 17:2-6).

God will always find a way. If the usual means of supply are cut off, God doesn’t need those. It’s been God that’s been the source all along. He’ll deliver it another way. He will feed you from His storeroom. If you don’t believe me, just ask the ravens.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:7-11).

Pray this – My Precious Heavenly Father, You are Jehovah Jireh, which means, God will provide. You are my provider and my deliverer. I know that You can do the impossible so even though I cannot see how You are going to pull it off, You are not limited by my imagination or my thoughts or my ways. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9). The story of the ravens shows us that You can and will use anything to provide for us and to accomplish Your plans, Your will, and Your purpose. Father, You are my Shepherd and I will lack nothing. “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” (Psalm 23:1). My daily needs will be met. Jesus told us, “This, then, is how you should pray:“‘Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,your will be done,on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:9-11). Father, show me today who you want me to share my time, talent and treasures with. The world says hang onto everything because I don’t know what is around the corner but I know that if I seek Your Kingdom and Your Righteousness first and bless others with my time, talent, and treasures all these things will be provided for me. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

 Laura Ingle