Casting Christians

Cast all your cares on him because he cares for you.  (1 Peter 5:7)

You might read today’s verse and think, “That’s a whole lot easier said than done!” I couldn’t agree with you more; I have a tendency to clutch my cares rather than cast them onto my Lord. If you are anything like me, let me share what I have learned through my study of the Scriptures and painful, personal experience — lessons that have helped me grow as a “casting Christian.”

It’s important to note that Peter was not suggesting that we pretend our cares don’t exist. Peter was writing to brothers and sisters in the Lord who had every reason to be clutching their cares. They were Jewish Christians who had been driven out of Jerusalem and scattered throughout Asia Minor during the great persecution of Christians that had been launched by the tyrannical Roman emperor Nero. Christians were being beaten, arrested, tortured, and executed for their faith in Jesus. There was no pretending that cares did not exist.

Peter opened his epistle by acknowledging that his readers “have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials,” and then explained that “These [trials and suffering] have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:7). Peter then urged his family of faith to refuse to carry their burdens alone. His inspired instruction was clear: Take your cares – all of your cares – and cast them onto Christ. Why? Because Jesus Christ cares deeply for His bride and His cross makes that abundantly clear.

Peter didn’t simply say, “Just throw away your cares,” because that is impossible to do. That would be like saying, “Just forget about it.” Who can do that? No, the instruction is clear; we are to intentionally give our cares over to the care of the One who can and will not only carry them, but comfort us at the same time.

So let me ask you directly: Are you like me? Have you been clutching any cares lately? What is making you anxious, worried, or fearful right now? The inspired psalmist also instructed you and me to be casting Christians: “Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous to be shaken” (Psalm 55:22 NASB). To know that Jesus can carry your cares is one thing, but to know that Jesus wants to carry your cares because He cares for you is another thing altogether!

What one change do you need to make in your life right now in order to begin living as a casting Christian? Do you remember when the disciples were in a boat with Jesus on the Sea of Galilee and an intense storm suddenly blew in while Jesus was asleep on a cushion? The terrified disciples woke the Lord, crying, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:39). Did Jesus care? He not only cared enough to still the storm on the water, but He went on to still the storm of sin in their hearts when He took their place on the cross . . . and He cared enough to take your place and mine too. Let that truth set you free to be a casting Christian, one who knows and trusts that Jesus cares for you.

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!