Simple Spiritual Truths
By Sharon W. Betters
TODAY’S TREASURE
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you." - Matthew 6:33
Dear Friends,
This week’s guest writer, Elaine Carr, and I connected many years ago through our denomination’s women’s ministry. Thanks to social media, we reconnected. Elaine sometimes shares on social media about the discoveries she makes on her morning walks. She writes about simple spiritual truths she sees in the tiny things that might go unnoticed if she weren’t being intentional in looking for them. As I read her work, I knew I wanted to share her writing with you.
Today’s Treasure is from Matthew 6:33. This is the verse Chuck and I had engraved on our wedding rings and is our life verse. But it doesn’t make complete sense if we take it out of context:
“Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
In other words, “Therefore, in light of how I care for the tiniest and weakest in My creation, seek first My kingdom and My righteousness, and all these things that you are tempted to worry about – will be cared for by Me.”
In this week’s devotionals, Elaine reminds us of the powerful way God uses nature to remind us He is sovereign and we can trust Him. In Tuesday’s devotional, Elaine writes:
[On this particular walk] I noticed this little patch of wildflowers. I found it odd that on this entire bank of beauty there was only a single, solitary yellow flower. It was surrounded by several varieties of white flowers, purple flowers, and all kinds of green flora. And yet there it stood, all alone, in its “yellowness”. Have you ever felt all alone even when completely surrounded by others because you were so obviously different from the rest of them? I have often felt that way in my life. At home, I am surrounded by introverts, and those who know me know I’m an extreme extrovert. At work, I was never a content area specialist, but someone who chose to work with children who had special learning needs. In our churches, for over 35 years I was the “preacher’s wife” and no matter how hard I tried, I was never quite like the rest of the regular members of the church. I’m a bit older than some of my friends so I’ve entered retirement before them which puts me in a different season of life from them. But yet here I am, in all my yellowness, blooming against all odds because God created me to be exactly who I am and planted me right where he wants me to be. I am therefore able to stand in the field with my other very unique co-laborers and flourish even though I am very different from most of them. I am surrounded by a bevy of beauty-all of us specifically designed and equipped to do his bidding.
Friends, I love how the Lord uses a lone yellow flower to remind us God created us to bring something unique to the lives of others. That’s often hard to remember when we feel outside the box. I hope Elaine’s words will encourage you to be intentional about watching for life lessons in the beauty of God’s creation.
Treasured by Him,
Sharon
PRAYER
Lord, when we look, really look, we see your fingerprints everywhere! Even in a tiny, yellow flower. Open our eyes to the beauty of not only creation but the reminders of your care for us.
More free resources for help hope & healing:
In His Grip is the preaching and teaching ministry of Dr. Chuck F. Betters from almost fifty years in church ministry. This month’s featured series is: The Myth of the Greener Grass with Dr. Chuck Betters
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sharon W. Betters is a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, pastor’s wife, and cofounder of MARKINC Ministries, where she is the Director of Resource Development. Sharon is the author of several books, including Treasures of Encouragement, Treasures in Darkness, and co-author with Susan Hunt of Aging with Grace. She is the co-host of the Help & Hope podcast and writes Daily Treasure, an online devotional.
For more from Daily Treasure please visit MARKINC.ORG.
Originally published Sunday, 13 August 2023.
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