Listen to what Jesus is saying here: He's saying "Look, if you were just physical bodies, if that's ALL your life was made of, you would have good reason to worry about what to feed your body, how to clothe it, and how to shelter it, because in 70 or 80 years, it's gone." But Jesus says "Look, you are far more than just bodies - the Father and I gave you a heart and a mind and a personality and feelings and a conscience and aspirations and affections and incredible creativity, and the capacity to love sacrificially. The Father and I breathed our life into you, and these days we are paying attention to what's going on INSIDE of you." And his reasoning goes like this: if the Father and I have gone to such enormous trouble to create, love, romance, redeem, and renew your inner person, would it make ANY SENSE at all for us to neglect the outer person-the details of food, drink, housing and clothing-the trivial stuff?

So how can you imagine a God who has poured out His life and grace for you personally, and for your church, blessing upon blessing, miracle after miracle, inside of you personally, and inside of your congregation, and imagine that he would not provide you the "clothing" - a mere building, or a Covenant connection with historical Anglicanism, or a new missional Anglican province to worship in and carry on Christ's ministry?

Secondly, Worry doesn't generate any constructive deliverables. "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" (Matt. 6:27 NIV) Jesus is saying to people like you and me who worry a lot, "Just tell me, give me a little feedback here. . . when you commit yourself to the ministry of ferocious anxiety and worry, does it work?... does it produce good things? Can you manipulate events, can you change stuff if you really worry hard?"

During the 14 years I lived in Northern Virginia, my commitment to a ministry of ferocious anxiety and worry had NO DISCERNIBLE IMPACT on the cars in front of me when I was stuck in gridlock on the beltway - how about you? My worry hasn't moved one car, hasn't hurried one traffic light, hasn't moved one accident or breakdown off the road.

Read it all.

Filed under: * Anglican - Episcopal • Episcopal Church (TEC) • TEC Conflicts • * Theology • Pastoral Theology

1. archangelica wrote: This is wonderful and encouraging. Just for tonight, I choose to live and rest in the peace of Christ. I’m going to print this out and put it on the fridge. This is truly soul food. August 22, 7:10 pm | [comment link]

2. Richard A. Menees wrote: I have to agree with #1.  As a defendant in a suite brought against and Anglican parish, threatened with fines for damages and loss of use, etc., etc. I sometimes am apprehensive.  The thoughts and the examples in this article are very helpful.  I am especially glad to learn of the provision God has made for the Standfirm congregation.  I am aware of similar outcomes.  Thank you, Phil.  And happy birthday! August 22, 11:23 pm | [comment link]

3. Richard A. Menees wrote: Did I write ‘suite’.  Argggh where is the spell check?  Suit! August 22, 11:27 pm | [comment link]

4. New Reformation Advocate wrote: Yes, thanks, Kendall, for posting this inspiring devotional.  I too found the amazing story of God’s provision for Fr. Matt Kennedy and his growing congregation in Binghamton, NY, very encouraging.  The Lord is faithful, although his way of supplying our needs is often different than we would like, since it requires so much faith. David Handy+ August 23, 6:00 am | [comment link]

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