Trusting in God Luke 12:32-40

Jesus gives clear instructions in the gospel reading for this week.

• do not be afraid
• sell your possessions and give alms
• make purses in heaven where thieves can't steal or moths destroy your true treasure
• be dressed for action with your lamps lit

These instruction go hand in hand. He says to trust him knowing that he will supply us with our every need. He says trust knowing that we are here today by God's grace. But we aren't supposed to live with our eyes only on this world alone. We are to live confident that God keeps his promises and that we won't be cut off from his gracious provision either here or in the world to come.

Martin Luther wrote of this confidence as he explained the 4th petition of the Lord's Prayer.

“Give us this day our daily bread.”

What does this mean?

Answer: To be sure, God provides daily bread, even to the wicked, without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that God may make us aware of his gifts and enable us to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.

What is meant by daily bread?

Answer: Everything required to satisfy our bodily needs, such as food and clothing, house and home, fields and flocks, money and property; a pious spouse and good children, trustworthy servants, godly and faithful rulers, good government; seasonable weather, peace and health, order and honor; true friends, faithful neighbors, and the like. Theodore G. Tappert, The Book of Concord : The Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, ( Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 2000, c1959), The Small Catechism: III, 11-14.

Jesus remind us again that we can be confident in God's love. AMEN