Like A Tea Bag

“He (Jesus) continued this subject with his disciples. “Don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or if the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your inner life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang onto your body. Look at the ravens, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, carefree in the care of God. And you count far more.

Has anyone by fussing before the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? If fussing can’t even do that, why fuss at all? Walk into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They don’t fuss with their appearance – but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. If God gives such attention to the wildflowers, most of them never even seen, don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?

What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don’t be afraid of missing out. You’re my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.“

Luke 12:22-32 ( MESSAGE) – (emphasis, mine)

No matter where we live, who we work for, or the size of our bank account, God is our Provider.

God takes care of the birds and we are more important to our Father than birds. The birds live carefree in the care of God, we should do the same.

And look how God clothes the flowers with beauty. He’s even better to us; not only meeting our needs, but blessing us above and beyond.

We know our God and are confident He sees us and takes care of us. We steep ourselves “in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions.”  We are like a tea bag!

I looked up “steep” in Merriam-Webster:

steep: to soak in a liquid at a temperature under the boiling point (as for softening, bleaching, or extracting an essence), to cover with or plunge into a liquid (as in bathing, rinsing, or soaking), to saturate with or subject thoroughly to (some strong or pervading influence)

I really like this analogy!

As we soak in God’s Word, cover ourselves with God’s Word, and saturate ourselves in His Word, we’ll find our needs met in every way. Our Father is not trying to keep things from us, but He wants to get things to us.

This is the only way to live; carefree in the care of God while we’re steeping like a tea bag!