Three Little Birds: One Year Bible Reading for July 7

 Today we read from these verses in the One Year Bible:

1 Chronicles 4:5-5:17
Acts 25:1-27
Psalm 5:1-12
Proverbs 18:19

Let's look at Acts. Paul is in prison, and some men are conspiring to try to kill him. He appeals to Caesar, and they prepare to take him before the Emperor of Rome. This is some seriously stressful stuff, but Paul writes his letters while he's in prison. And while in prison, Paul tells us the same thing that the three little birds tell us in the song by Bob Marley - Don't worry, be happy.

Don't remember reading that verse? Well take a look at Philippians 4:6. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, through prayer and supplication, make your requests to God." That's fancy theological language for "Don't worry - pray about it instead!" Now look at Philippians 4:4. "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say: REJOICE!"

Take those two verses together, and God is telling us the same thing as the three little birds. Don't worry. Be happy.

Does that means we won't have troubles? No! In fact, the Bible tells us we definitely WILL have troubles. But worrying about them doesn't help - it only hurts us. Rejoicing in the fact that God will work EVERYTHING for our good makes everything better.

So don't worry. Be happy.

God, thanks for teaching us that what the three little birds sang about it really true.