Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day [is] the evil thereof. (Matthew 6.24 KJV)

This morning’s Gospel, my brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, is one that shows the depth and breadth of the Christian journey…shows what is at the heart of the Christian journey towards holiness and full union with God through Jesus Christ.

Today’s Gospel has the ability to both comfort and convict…to comfort and to convict as we journey towards holiness throughout the days of our lives.

One of the greatest temptations in life is to try and serve two masters…to be both a Christian following the Saviour…and worldly pursuing wealth and material security and serving Mammon- or making a god of money.

At times during our lives the Gospel is a warning:

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? (Matthew 6.25)

When the Gospel serves as a warning, it is because we have turned our faith from God Almighty to Mammon…the Gospel becomes a warning we when doubt that God will actually provide…when we try and gain security by material means alone.

The Gospel also serves as a warning when begin to believe or trust in the idea that material wealth and security can actually make us safe and sheltered…. that material things can save us.

So, then the idea of following Jesus is to shun Mammon and the temptations to seek security and salvation in material wealth, and to place our trust and faith in Jesus Christ…to trust and have faith that Jesus will provide for every one of our needs.

And there are times when, if we try and place our faith in God to provide all our needs, that the future looks overwhelmingly uncertain and dangerous.

It is then the words become a comfort.

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. (Matthew 6.31-33 RSV)

So then, God the Father knows the things we need, and we are comforted in the fact that if we seek the Kingdom and the righteousness of God…God will provide for our needs…will take care of us

We are given comfort and security in these words when the future looks uncertain and overwhelming.

The thing that makes this passage a touchstone of the heart of the Christian journey, is that it is not static.  That is to say, it is not something that we learn and say, “O.K. Got it!” and never worry about it again.

We are constantly rambling down the road of life, one moment anxious seeking comfort and the next comfortable and standing convicted.

As we journey closer towards God…as we journey towards holiness…we fall into new temptations…we must be convicted…we encounter new evils…we must be comforted.

The heart of the Christian life lies in making the pilgrimage to holiness… making the pilgrimage to full union with Jesus Christ.

The Christian life is not static.  It is not the mere memorization of a certain code of law…Christianity is about becoming holy and joined to God- and the journey to holiness requires both conviction and comfort as we draw nearer to God.

So, let us journey on towards the living God, praying for comfort when we are anxious…and conviction when we are comfortable in temptation.