September 9, 2004

THE ONE WHO CARES

"Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7, NKJV).

What an accurate portrait Peter paints of our wonderful Saviour! When no one else seems to care, we can have the certainty that Jesus cares. As the hymn puts it, "I know my Saviour cares."

In Greek, the meaning of the verb, cast, is "to give up," "to unload." The Greek form of the verb implies that the act of unloading is to be done once-for-all. Perhaps a bulldozer is the most graphic illustration of this act of completely unloading our cares on the One who cares. A bulldozer scoops up a large load of rocks and dirt, then dumps it all with a single movement into a waiting truck for removal. The apostle Peter personally knew the One who cares, and he urges us to fully unload all our cares on Jesus. What a great source of comfort to know that our Saviour cares!

Whether our load of care is related to our work, home, family, finance, or personal life, the One who cares is abundantly able to handle it. Just unload it all on Him. He is the expert in dealing with cares and anxieties. If we will do the unloading, our Saviour knows precisely what to do with our cares. The psalmist counsels us, "Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you" (Psalm 55:22, NKJV).

Peter tells why we should unload all our cares on Jesus. It is because He genuinely cares for us. Yes, the answer to the question, "Does Jesus care?" is emphatic. "Oh, yes, He cares; I know He cares!" "Then let us take each day's cares and sorrows and trials to Jesus casting all our care upon Him; for He careth for us. Let us begin each day as if it were the last we should pass upon earth, and continuing in prayer, let us live in such a way, that we may ask God at its close to bless our efforts and influence."--Bible Echo and Signs of the Times, March 1, 1893.

My Prayer Today: Lord, in faith I will unload my cares on You, because I know You care for me. Amen.