(Jesus said) "Therefore do not be
anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for
the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:34
Every once in a while, when I'm scanning the stories for our Daily Devotions, I
come across a major news item, which seems to have been ignored by the media.
This week, in a period of five minutes, I found two such stories.
These are stories which underline the truth of the Savior's words when He said,
"Each day has sufficient trouble on its own." So, before we go any further, here
are those news items:
1. Iraq has admitted that ISIS (the folks who kidnap school girls and crucify
terrorists because they're not crazy enough) has managed to take control of
Saddam Hussein's chemical weapons facility.
If that isn't bad enough, they also have stopped by the University of Mosul and
stolen 88 pounds of nuclear material, material which could be used to make
weapons of mass destruction.
Authorities from the U.S., the U.N., and Iraq say, "Don't worry, the uranium
hasn't been enriched ... yet."
2. The second story is just as serious. You may already know that smallpox has
been wiped out and only two places in the world, one in the U.S. and one in
Russia, are authorized to handle the stuff which is left.
What you probably don't know is that a lab in Bethesda, Maryland, just realized
they have had six freeze-dried vials of smallpox around for decades: the most
virulent strain of smallpox.
Authorities from the Center for Disease Control are assuring us: "Don't worry.
The seals on the vials are intact, and we have no evidence that anyone has been
exposed."
Jesus was right: we don't have to spend our time worrying about tomorrow. Right
now, all around us, there is plenty to worry about. We can start worrying about
terrorists with nuclear material or smallpox that can be unleashed if somebody
gets a case of "butterfingers." We can worry about dying because we were
attacked by a shark (that happens to 40 people a year), or because we were
clunked on the noggin by a coconut (that kills150 people a year).
Yes, if we want, we can worry about many things. We can worry about big stuff,
little stuff, inconsequential stuff, and guaranteed-to-happen stuff.
Or we can listen and believe the Savior who says, "Peace I leave with you; My
peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your
hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid" (John 14:27). Now I can't say
what you will do, but I am confident that the Savior, who gave His life to win
forgiveness and heaven for me, is not going to forget me now.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, when the world wants to make me afraid, may I look to You
who have promised to be with and watch over me. This I ask in the Savior's Name.
Amen.
Pastor Ken Klaus Lutheran Hour Ministries All rights reserved; not to be duplicated without permission.
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