In the movie "The Hunt for Red October" shortly after CIA analyst Jack Ryan (Alec Baldwin) boards the carrier USS Enterprise Rear Admiral Joshua Painter (Fred Thompson) asks the question "what's his plan?" A few moments later he clarifies his question by stating "Russians don't take a dump, son, without a plan." Most of us like to have a plan - we like to know how things are going to happen, and what to expect. That describes me very well, I like to have all my ducks in a row. I don't just want to know what is going to happen today, I want to understand what is going to happen next week, next month, even next year.
A number of years ago, while interviewing for a job in southern California, I was offered the job on Thursday night without being given any of the details - including salary. Unfortunately the ministry office was closed on Friday so I would have to wait until Monday morning to find out the particulars. The job itself was very desirable but being located in southern California I was very anxious over whether the offered salary would be sufficient to provide for my families needs. Lisa and I discussed the offer extensively that evening but couldn't find peace about the offer because of the ambiguity of not knowing the salary. Later that evening while talking to a friend I mentioned the idea of needing to get all of the information so I could get my ducks in a row. She interrupted my ramblings telling me, "Jon, they are not your ducks!"
Our Lord's Prayer phrase for this week is "give us this day our daily bread" (#ourdailybread). In this phrase Jesus is reminding us that they are not our ducks, and as such we do NOT have to get them in a row. When God led Israel out of Egypt He did not give them provisions for the entire trip before they left (although He could have done that very easily!) instead, He provided them with manna on a daily basis. With the exception of Fridays they were only to gather enough food for a single day (for 40 years God reaffirmed His Sabbath by providing enough food for 2 days on Friday, but only 1 day Sunday through Thursday.)
Several times in Israels journey to the Promised Land God reminds them where their provisions come from. At the crossing of the Red Sea they are told "Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord" (Exodus14:13 NASB), at the crossing of the Jordan 40 years later the priests are instructed to "go stand in the river" (Joshua 3:7 NIV) - the waters didn't part until the priests got their feet wet!
Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:25 to not worry about what we are going to eat or drink, or even what we are going to clothe ourselves with. In verse 33 He reminds us that when we seek first God's kingdom everything else is provided for us.
How can we, in a world that requires food and clothing, learn to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, allowing Him to provide for our needs as we need them?
