Fourth Sunday after Trinity – Saturday

 

[Cast] all your care upon Him; for He careth for you. – I Peter 5:7.

God sustains His creatures here below as long as it pleases Him. He, who is present within His entire creation, upholds “all things by the Word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3). This text speaks of the Son, our Savior, and proves His eternal Godhead. The Son does this together with the Father and the Holy Ghost. God’s omnipotence and wisdom are needed to preserve all things, and to provide for so great a creation. He keeps also you, and provides for you. To this end, He gives you clothing and shoes, meat and drink, house and home, wife and children, fields, cattle, and all goods, according as you are in need of each of these things, within your station and calling. He richly and daily provides you with all that you need to support this body and life. God does this, God alone. Certainly, you must work for your daily bread, as the Lord requires of you, as long as you are able to do so; for “if any would not work, neither should he eat” (II Thessalonians 3:10).

Ordinarily, God wants to preserve and keep you by means of your own labor, under His blessing. And, He also wants you to make use of the understanding that He has given you. However, your ultimate trust and reliance is not to be built upon your own labor and understanding. With these you can accomplish nothing, unless God deigns to bless your doing and your planning (Psalm 127:1). Furthermore, you must not use your labor and your understanding in the service of sinful greed. You have no need to worry about the things necessary for your earthly life. Take no thought, saying, What will I eat? or, What will I drink? or, How shall I be clothed? For God (not you) is ultimately responsible for keeping you and providing for you (Matthew 6:24-34).

Indeed, God is your loving heavenly Father in Christ Jesus. How sinful it is, then, to doubt His care and to be consumed by cares and worries! O Christian, child of God, poor sinner, take your care and cast it on God, for He cares for you. This is most certainly true. So says the Holy Ghost.

PRAYER – O God, my Father. I thank Thee that Thou hast assured me of Thy care and providence! I thank Thee that Thou so kindly dost exhort me to cast all my care on Thee! Continue to comfort me with Thy forgiveness for the sinful weakness of my faith. Continue to grant to me a rich measure of Thy Holy Spirit, working through Thy Word, that I may ever more cheerfully and wholly rely on Thee. O hear and answer my prayer for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

 

He is thy Treasure, He thy Joy, thy Life and Light and Lord;

thy Counselor when doubts annoy, thy Shield and great Reward.

Why spend the day in blank despair, in restless tho’t the night?

On thy Creator cast thy care; He makes thy burdens light.

(Hymn 535, st. 2-3; TLH)

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