"Where God guides He provides." Sounds trite, but ‘tis true! The Bible is full of examples of the Lord's provision for His people, the wilderness wanderings of Israel, Elijah the Prophet, the crowds who followed Jesus and the Apostle Paul on his missionary journeys - just to name a few! I love Abraham's testimony in Genesis 22:14 "The Lord will provide".
The Lord Jesus teaches us to trust in the Heavenly Father's provision in Matthew 6:25. He is not suggesting that we fail to plan ahead, work hard, or save for a rainy day. He is teaching us that our ultimate focus is not on earthly provisions but on the Lord who in love and power provides for His own. Even the Apostle Paul didn't have God plopping his food on a plate directly from Heaven but worked as a tentmaker as well as receiving gifts from God's caring people and a miracle or two along the way.
For the transformed believer what a joy it is to know that in this life we can look to our Lord for His provision for faith, food, and our future - provision from groceries to guidance to guarding us. Confidence in His supply can lead us to abundant giving, greater ventures for the Kingdom, and peace about the daily needs of our lives and families.
See you Sunday!
1. What is the prayer for provision that Jesus teaches us? Matthew.6:11
2. What is the promise of provision from Paul in Philippians 4:19?
3. What principle of provision brings balance to our understanding of God's
provision? 2 Thessalonians 3:10
4. How is the Provider of provision described in James 1:17?
5. Consider a psalm of provision - Psalm 23. Compare the descriptions there to
earthly and spiritual provision.
6. What comfort and challenge do you find in Proverbs of provision? Prov. 3:5, 6
7. Consider your own praise for provision that God has supplied through ability to
work, gifts from others, and miraculous supply. Lamentations 3:22, 23
(Remind you of a hymn?)
8. What is the pinnacle of provision? John 3:16!!!
