TAKE CARE
Pastor Mark Warda
Woodland Church
Wednesday, October 4, 2023
Webster’s Dictionary defines “care” as suffering of mind.
(1 Peter 5:7, NLT) “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”
(1 Peter 5:7, NIV) “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
Care: Greek merimnao
Care: Greek melei
(Phil 4:6-7, ESV) “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
(Phil 4:6-7, NLT) “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
1. Our “care” is how we think.
a. Instead of being anxious, pray.
“Don’t be anxious about anything; instead, pray about everything.”
b. Pray with supplication and thanksgiving.
“Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”
c. The peace of God is experienced in the presence of God.
“Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.”
(1 John 4:18, NCV) “Where God’s love is, there is no fear, because God’s perfect love drives out fear.”
(Isaiah 26:3, ESV) “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”
(Luke 10:38-42) “Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
(Luke 10:40, The Message) “The Master said, “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing.”
2. Our “care” is a choice.
a. Mary chose to be at the feet of Jesus.
b. Martha chose to be fussing around the house.
c. Right emotions follow right actions.
(Matthew 13:22, NLT) “The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.”
How would you describe “fruit” in this passage?
Do you see yourself producing such “fruit”?
Could the “worries of this life” be responsible for your lack of “fruit”?
What specific “thorns” in your life can you identify as “worries” and “anxieties?”
What will you do differently in order to produce such “fruit” in your life?
(Luke 10:40) “But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”
3. Jesus’ “care” is to teach and to guide.
(Mark 4:35-40, NLT) “As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
4. Jesus’ “care” is to protect and to provide.
(Romans 8:28, NIV) “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”
(Proverbs 12:25, NIV) “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.”
GROWTHWORK
- Look outward, not inward.
- Help someone in need.
- Remember: If you love God, you’ll love people.
- Share a kind word!
- Invite someone to Friend Day