The Civil War Within

Matthew 6:28-34  (NASB) ²⁸ And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, ²⁹ yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. ³⁰ But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! ³¹ Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ ³² For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  ³⁴ “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Jesus came to a generation facing similar problems to our own.  Rome was invasive and demanding.  God was ignored but the "religion" concerning Him was tolerated as long as it was kept under Rome's control.  Even those who kept the Law and sought to protect their way of worship were using control as their way of practicing their "religion".  Jesus never sought to change Rome or the Sanhedrin.  He presented Light in a dark world.  The Light illuminated the problems of life within the systems that dominated that time.  The Light gave a choice to be dominated or be freed.  Problems would always be a part of this realm.  How you face those problems is your choice. 

Jesus never said that we do not need to eat or to have clothing or shelter.  He simply presented a choice of focus on how we are to have what we need.  We can worry about it, and so keep our focus here, or we can seek His Kingdom and His Righteousness and keep our focus on His Love.  The basic atmosphere of the Kingdom of God is Love.  The basic atmosphere of this realm is fear.  Paul's letter to the Ephesians recognizes that they were struggling against daily opposition to living in the Kingdom of God.  His prayer for them was that they would be so rooted in God's Love that they would be able to comprehend, understand, absorb and move out from that position, into their world with the power of God.  Ephesians 3:14-21 (NASB)  ¹⁴ For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, ¹⁶ that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. ²⁰ Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, ²¹ to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.   

Jesus lived on this earth in the Kingdom of God.  He ate the diet that was available, he wore clothing that was available in that generation but He lived in God's Kingdom for it was within Him.  He has told every generation since that time that the Kingdom of God is available, it is here, it is within you.  You can live in this present day, with all of its problems, motivated and moved by the powerful Love of God or be fearful.  The choice is up to the individual and will be strengthened by what you seek.