“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?”
King James Version (KJV)
Jesse's comment on 2021-04-19 19:56:10:
Customizer 2021,
Verse 8 says be sober, be vigilant. It means to be sober-minded. Vigilant means be on guard. It's the same thing Jesus said to the disciples in Matthew 26:41 when He said can't you wait and watch with me? They kept falling asleep. Be sober thinking, be alert, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks around seeking whom he may devour:
That's to Christians. The Jews would know that the term lion represented the enemy. Seven times in the Psalms David used the word lion as an example of his enemies. In Ezekiel 22:25, Ezekiel used the lion to describe the false prophets.
So Satan takes on this ravaging lion that's going around seeking whom he may devour. This is where the attention of the mind comes in. He roams around and scouts. Job Chapters 1 and 2 tell us that Satan scouts God's people. The fact that he's roaming around is continuous.
Every day, we're being scouted as to what it is that Satan can use to occupy the attention of our minds. He can't take our salvation away from us, but basically, his attitude is "Oh, the Lord saves you and now He wants to renew your mind? Well, I'll just keep you busy!"
So he occupies the attention of our mind. We're too busy, too tired, and we got too much going on. When he devours, he devours mentally, not spiritually. He cannot devour me spiritually but he wants to occupy the attention of my mind.
James says to resist. In James 4:7, he says to resist the devil, and he will flee from you. We don't have to fight him. He's already been defeated.
In Ephesians 6:11, Paul says put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Stand against is the word resist. He's to be resisted.
Verse 9: Whom resist stedfast, or solid in the faith, doing this, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished, or fulfilled in your brethren that are in the world. Every single brother and sister in Christ around the world is suffering or going through the same thing!
Phil's comment on 2013-02-04 10:31:55:
Re: Jeanne Nelson's comment: 'Take no thought' in the 'man-made bad foods' we have today! And 'Take no thought' that you should have any need to eat so much --- the Lord has 'made enough' for us ... seek the joys of foods as they were meant to be enjoyed! Eating shouldn't be an over-indulged procession or preoccupation - but rather we should give many thanks for 'our daily bread: the word of God and treasure the food and other basic needs for which He provides! The fruits, vegetables, fish and meat (if we choose) are still bountiful so we do not need all the processed foods made has made for himself that results as a poison to his own health - which should never be taken for granted! Peace be with you!
jeanne nelson's comment on 2012-10-29 12:35:44:
Can this be applied to overcome my compulsive food obsession, and guilt, and ultimately overeating. I am constantly worrying about everything I eat "Is this bad? Is this good? Am I bad if I eat this?" I want to have God show me how to "take no thought" I want freedom to seek Him first.