For example, many of us say that poor people are poor because of their own bad choices, so they don’t deserve our help. Now, first of all, this largely isn’t true. But secondly, and more importantly, God calls us to love the poor no matter what. He doesn’t say “love the poor unless they made bad decisions.”

Similarly, he calls us to love immigrants. He doesn’t say love the immigrant, but only if he has his paperwork in order.

Leviticus 19:33-34 (The Message) says:

When a foreigner lives with you in your land, don’t take advantage of him. Treat the foreigner the same as a native. Love him like one of your own. Remember that you were once foreigners in Egypt. I am God, your God.

Why do we struggle with that? Why do we make our love conditional?

Never looking back
Or too far in front of me
The present is a gift
And I just want to be.

The word-play alone is great, but there’s a point to it, and the message is powerful. Live today, and don’t worry about tomorrow.

That’s hard to do, isn’t it? We worry constantly about what the future might bring, but God tells us all that worrying won’t add a moment to our lives. Instead, He says, we should rely on Him, knowing He will take care of us, and knowing He has provided a much brighter future for us after this life.

In Matthew, Jesus says that God already knows all of our needs, and will provide for them – we just need to focus on Him and His kingdom. He says, “…seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you…”

Of course that doesn’t mean life will always be easy. Jesus goes on to say, “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

So what do we do when consumed by worry and anxiety? He tells us through the apostle Paul in Philippians:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Live today in Christ Jesus. The present is a gift.