No Shortages
Who’d ever thunk? Baby formula. Toilet paper. Job applicants. Shortages. And all blamed on COVID. Aren’t you thankful that our God is not constrained by supply chain problems or pandemics?
The Bible tells us,
“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19). Jesus also said, “Do not worry then, saying ‘What will we eat?’ or What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’…your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matt. 6:31-33).
Did you notice the commonality of these verses? There are two. The first is the little word ‘all’. The second is a condition we must meet to qualify. In the first example we must be ‘in Christ Jesus’. In the second, we have to have our priorities right.
When God says ‘all’
He means all. His supply of mercy, grace, love, forgiveness is only limited by our lack of asking and lack of faith. The Apostle James puts it this way, “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith…You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures” (Jas. 1:5; 4:2). Know this: God is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think (Eph. 3:20). Don’t limit Him working in your life by not doing things His way.
What does it mean to be ‘in Christ Jesus’?
It means that we have put our faith (belief) and trust (for our eternal future) in Jesus’ death and resurrection to eliminate our death penalty, deserved because of our sin and rebellion against God. It happens the very moment we turn from our self-rule and admit we have sinned and broken God’s law and rightfully deserve death (“the wages of sin is death” Rom. 6:23). At that moment we become new creatures “in Christ” (“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” 2 Cor. 5:17).
What about our priorities?
The second verse above tells us we must “seek first” God’s kingdom and His righteousness. How do we do that? Spend time in your Bible on a daily basis (“Establish Your Word to Your servant, as that which produces reverence for You” Ps. 119:38), pray often about big and little things (“pray without ceasing” 1 Thess. 5:17), eliminate bad behavior (“abstain from every form of evil” 1 Thess. 5:22), and become involved in a Bible-believing church (“let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Heb. 10:24, 25).
These are not magic formulas, nor are they genie-in-a-lamp wishes. They are rock-solid promises from the Creator of the universe that are there for the claiming by anyone who qualifies according to God’s revealed plan. For a more detailed explanation than is given above, see Steps to Salvation on this website. But first, a word of caution.
Some have become discouraged
because they thought they could manipulate God to do for them and give to them whatever they asked Him for. His promises are to supply all our needs, not all our wants. Growth in our relationship to God doesn’t happen overnight. Our journey of faith is much like life; we start out as babies unable to care for ourselves. We need milk not steak to grow. The simple truths of God’s word are building blocks for a deeper relationship to Him. This is why we all need to spend time reading the Bible for ourselves. When you come to a verse or section you don’t understand, pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance to open your eyes. That’s why it’s absolutely necessary to be part of a fellowship where together they study God’s word.
This walk of faith is an exciting journey. We’ll see God in His creation and praise Him for it. We’ll see Him in answers to prayer that changes hearts and circumstances that couldn’t change any other way and praise Him for it. He will become real in the pages of Scripture and the historic events written there will become sources of encouragement for our own walk. Don’t wait to get started.