“Now, the sum total of his conversation with man has finally culminated in a son. He is the official heir of all things. He is, after all, the author of the ages.  (Sonship, as represented in Jesus, is the crescendo of God’s conversation with man).
We have our beginning and our present being in him. He is the force of the universe, sustaining everything that exists by his eternal utterance! Jesus is the radiant and flawless expression of the person of God. He makes the glory (intent) of God visible and exemplifies the character and every attribute of God in human form. (Gen.1:26, 27) This powerful final utterance of God (the incarnation) is the vehicle that carries the weight of the universe. He is the central theme of everything that exists.” Hebrews 1: 2 (Mirror Translation)

He communicates the Father’s initiative to reconcile us fully to Himself.

1 Corinthians 1:30 “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption – that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”

God wants us to glory, to boast, to make much of … His initiative!  We can never make to much of, or exaggerate what He has done.  Not the half has been told!  “The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.” Matt 12:42
The greater One is here…and He is in you! If you are going to exaggerate, exaggerate His generosity and love, because you’ll find that you won’t even have come near to exhausting the subject.
What do we have, that we have have not already been given. We love, because He first loved us, we give, because He first gave. We believe, because he first believed in us … even our faith is a gift from God.
Faith is not something you do, faith happens when we see what He has already done on our behalf. This is what ignites our faith, it is that wow moment, when you become overwhelmed by the reality of what God sees. ” … it is the substance of things hoped for, the reality of things not seen.” Heb 11:1
Faith reaches into God’s reality and pulls it into your “now”. Persuading you of what is already true, before you even believed it was.
“Persuasion confirms confident expectation and proves the unseen world to be more real than the seen. Faith celebrates as certain what hope still visualises as future.  (The shadow can no longer substitute the substance of faith.)” Heb 11:1 (Mirror Translation)

What an awesome thing to be invited to see what He sees. God is persuaded, He is not still wondering, whether He is for us or against us, or whether He should or shouldn’t embrace us. He is totally persuaded,  for He has embraced us so fully in Christ and now longs for us to realise that we are embraced. There is nothing wrong with God’s faith – He knows something about you, and He wants you to come to the same persuasion..

Paul encourages us that “having been (past tense) raised with Christ and seated with him in heavenly place, let us fix our attention on that which is above – where our true life is…
He wants to persuade us of our true life.
Our senses are constantly trying to educate us about this life – how we should feel, react etc. He wants us to be persuaded by our true life – our real life. Christ comes to introduce us to ourselves – our true selves!

You see the good news is that God has drawn us and included us into the fellowship of the Trinity…”God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 Cor 1:9 The same fellowship that the Son enjoys, is our portion – there is no other standard, or measure. The good news is not that we have invited Him into our reality – but that we were invited into His. WOW!! He has done everything possible to include us in His life, and now urges us … see what I see, focus on my initiative, for it has within it the energy and life to produce in you the most attractive, fulfilled, effective life possible.
The best, most fruitful decisions are made out of this understanding, namely, He has already decided to love you with all He is and has…so, love back!

I don’t see Matthew 6:25 as a how-to-stress-less teaching. But, more importantly, a beautiful lesson in the care of God and a reminder of just how valuable we are to Him.
“Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds. ”
…how much more are you worth!

You see, how do you not worry about tomorrow? It’s only when you are convinced that the One who is your life, is already there. There is nothing in tomorrow, or any other day for that matter, that could in any way subtract from your value before God. And if He loves you, He is most certainly going to care for you.

There was no length, breadth, width or height that could keep God from redeeming you and I. There was nothing that could withhold Him from loving us…not even death.
No matter what comes your way, He is never going to think differently about you or stop loving you.
” What is man that You are mindful of Him?” Heb 2:6 His mind is filled with thoughts concerning you! We need to allow ourselves to be consumed with His thoughts.

Understanding your value, has everything to do with understanding His thoughts concerning you – partaking of His knowledge.

What does He know about you?
That you are redeemed, fully reconciled to Him, raised with Christ and seated with Him in heavenly places…

Colossians 3:1-3
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
The message says it this way:
So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective. Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life.

Focus on that which is above…this is our life and our true abode.

Matt 6:19 speaks of storing up for yourselves treasures in heaven…and where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
I believe that your greatest treasure is understanding – the greatest stockpile of wealth cannot compare to the understanding of the treasure that lies within you.
Your heart will be at rest and content in the understanding of who you are in Christ, and just who He is in you!

The wise accumulate knowledge—a true treasure…Prov 10:14

…turning your ear to wisdom

and applying your heart to understanding,

and if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,

and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure, Prov 2:2-4
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who gains understanding,

for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold. Prov 3:13,14

Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, Prov 8:10
How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver! Prov16:16

With me(wisdom) are riches and honor,
enduring wealth and prosperity. Prov 8:18

Prov 3:13
You’re blessed when you meet Lady Wisdom, when you make friends with Madame Insight. She’s worth far more than money in the bank; her friendship is better than a big salary. Her value exceeds all the trappings of wealth; nothing you could wish for holds a candle to her. With one hand she gives long life, with the other she confers recognition. Her manner is beautiful, her life wonderfully complete. She’s the very Tree of Life to those who embrace her. Hold her tight—and be blessed!

The value of investing your thoughts and attention on the things which are above is eternal, but the benefits of peace, joy and contentment will be enjoyed by you now.
You can begin to live careless in the Father’s care.

(by Mary-Anne Rabe)