ListenDaily - 30 April 2009; How to be free
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
John 8;31-32 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
This is the recipe for freedom.
If you want to be free, live freely, speak freely, think freely, witness freely...free from anxiety...free from doubt...free from worry...then follow the steps that Jesus left for us:
You will be set free, if you know the truth.
You will know the truth if you are a disciple of Christ.
You will be a disciple if you follow His teachings.
Follow...know...freedom.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Does this sound too simple? 2. Is it? 3. Have you tried these steps? Will you?
INTERESTING THOUGHT ON TRUTH:
"Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that, unless we love the truth, we cannot know it."
Blaise Pascal
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
ListenDaily - 27 April 2009; What difference does it make?
ListenDaily - 27 April 2009; What difference does it make?
Does it matter if I believe that Satan is real?
Certainly.
I have four children, three of whom are drivers. I taught them to drive as best as I could, yet even if I taught them to be perfect drivers, there is still danger when they go out on the road. There are other drivers, some texting on their cell phones, some inattentive in other ways, some under the influence of alcohol. There are deer, mechanical failures, and a host of other things that make driving hazardous for the best of drivers. And to be the best driver you can be, you must be aware of yourself, as well as the external forces that endanger you. How dangerous it would be to think your driving experience would be completely safe, even if you could perfect yourself, as if everything is under your control.
"...each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." James 1:14-15 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
As natural beings born into a fallen world, we certainly have fleshly desires, but even if we could cleanse ourselves, perfect ourselves, (which of course we cannot), there are external forces waiting to 'drag us away'. When our frailties are exploited by those external forces, by Satan and his followers, it leads to death.
I think the great danger of ignoring the external forces of evil, is that it causes us to ignore the need for the Holy Spirit. If people ignore the spiritual forces of evil, then we begin to doubt the need for Heavenly spiritual intervention.
Certainly, we need the work of the Cross to save us from our own inward evil intent. Just as certainly, we need to power of the Holy Spirit to defend us from external spiritual evil.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. do you believe in Satan as a real being? 2. What does your pastor/church believe? 3. is there a difference between the two?
INTERESTING THOUGHT ON TRUTH:
"Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that, unless we love the truth, we cannot know it."
Blaise Pascal
Does it matter if I believe that Satan is real?
Certainly.
I have four children, three of whom are drivers. I taught them to drive as best as I could, yet even if I taught them to be perfect drivers, there is still danger when they go out on the road. There are other drivers, some texting on their cell phones, some inattentive in other ways, some under the influence of alcohol. There are deer, mechanical failures, and a host of other things that make driving hazardous for the best of drivers. And to be the best driver you can be, you must be aware of yourself, as well as the external forces that endanger you. How dangerous it would be to think your driving experience would be completely safe, even if you could perfect yourself, as if everything is under your control.
"...each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." James 1:14-15 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
As natural beings born into a fallen world, we certainly have fleshly desires, but even if we could cleanse ourselves, perfect ourselves, (which of course we cannot), there are external forces waiting to 'drag us away'. When our frailties are exploited by those external forces, by Satan and his followers, it leads to death.
I think the great danger of ignoring the external forces of evil, is that it causes us to ignore the need for the Holy Spirit. If people ignore the spiritual forces of evil, then we begin to doubt the need for Heavenly spiritual intervention.
Certainly, we need the work of the Cross to save us from our own inward evil intent. Just as certainly, we need to power of the Holy Spirit to defend us from external spiritual evil.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. do you believe in Satan as a real being? 2. What does your pastor/church believe? 3. is there a difference between the two?
INTERESTING THOUGHT ON TRUTH:
"Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that, unless we love the truth, we cannot know it."
Blaise Pascal
Thursday, April 23, 2009
ListenDaily - 23 April 2009; So, how can we know?
ListenDaily - 23 April 2009; So, how can we know?
So then, is Satan real or a metaphor? Are the Scriptures true, as written, or just a series of stories to kind of point us in the right direction?
Can we know.
Yes...we can know.
We know, not by becoming convinced of the inerrancy of the Bible first, or by believing that Satan exists first. First, we have to know God.
When we come to know and trust Him...when we experience Him, then creation, parting of seas, resurrections, and eternity are no longer unthinkable. They become plausible, they become possible, they become expected. When we come to know God, we can come to trust His Word, even if we don't understand it. And is that so unimaginable? How many different things of this world, do you not understand, yet trust?
So, how do we get there?
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33
"Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
If you struggle with any of these 'truth' issues, start here, with just these verses. Let every other thing go. Just seek God. God will reveal Himself to you. He desires nothing more than to be in a relationship with you; to show His love for you.
If you do not struggle with this, but are in the conversation with someone who does, consider sharing this with them. I think it is rare that someone gets argued, debated, or beaten into the kingdom. "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ." Ephesians 4:15
The love of God is the mightiest power, the greatest magnet in the universe. Surely we should seek truth, love truth, teach and preach truth. But always, always, in and with love.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. How do you know God? 2. What is the state of your relationship with Him? 3. How do you share Him with others?
INTERESTING THOUGHT ON TRUTH:
"Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that, unless we love the truth, we cannot know it."
Blaise Pascal
So then, is Satan real or a metaphor? Are the Scriptures true, as written, or just a series of stories to kind of point us in the right direction?
Can we know.
Yes...we can know.
We know, not by becoming convinced of the inerrancy of the Bible first, or by believing that Satan exists first. First, we have to know God.
When we come to know and trust Him...when we experience Him, then creation, parting of seas, resurrections, and eternity are no longer unthinkable. They become plausible, they become possible, they become expected. When we come to know God, we can come to trust His Word, even if we don't understand it. And is that so unimaginable? How many different things of this world, do you not understand, yet trust?
So, how do we get there?
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33
"Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
If you struggle with any of these 'truth' issues, start here, with just these verses. Let every other thing go. Just seek God. God will reveal Himself to you. He desires nothing more than to be in a relationship with you; to show His love for you.
If you do not struggle with this, but are in the conversation with someone who does, consider sharing this with them. I think it is rare that someone gets argued, debated, or beaten into the kingdom. "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ." Ephesians 4:15
The love of God is the mightiest power, the greatest magnet in the universe. Surely we should seek truth, love truth, teach and preach truth. But always, always, in and with love.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. How do you know God? 2. What is the state of your relationship with Him? 3. How do you share Him with others?
INTERESTING THOUGHT ON TRUTH:
"Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that, unless we love the truth, we cannot know it."
Blaise Pascal
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
ListenDaily - 22 April 2009; Itchy ears
ListenDaily - 22 April 2009; Itchy ears
Wow! What a response this has generated! Some folks grew up in churches, while others currently attend ones, that act as if Satan and Hell do not exist. As one friend put it, they taught (or teach) a "watered down" form of the Scriptures.
Friends, don't get me wrong, I don't think a church has to preach Hell and damnation every week; as a matter of fact, I think emphasizing the love of God does more to bring people into the Kingdom than fear ever does. After all, the love of God is the greatest power in the universe, much greater than fear. Still, we must understand the enemy against which we battle, it is commanded in the Scriptures that we do so:
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Romans 17:17-190) (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
The book of James indicts us for our own sinful behavior, citing our "sinful desires", so, indeed, we have a natural born bent for evil within us. However, if Satan and his unfortunate followers are mere 'metaphors' for that evil, then Paul went way overboard, don't you think? "...rulers...authorities...powers of this dark world...spiritual forces of evil..."
I don't think this was just a little hyperbole on the Apostle's part; Paul was telling it as God inspired him.
The real question is this; do we elect to believe what the Scriptures say? Or do we pick and choose what makes us comfortable, and leave out the rest? If we do, we can find plenty of company, for as Paul also wrote to Timothy: "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1.What is your view of the truth of Scripture? 2.Do you regularly hear 'sound doctrine'? Or teaching meant to 'suit their own desires'? 3. What is your response?
INTERESTING THOUGHT ON TRUTH:
"Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that, unless we love the truth, we cannot know it."
Blaise Pascal
Wow! What a response this has generated! Some folks grew up in churches, while others currently attend ones, that act as if Satan and Hell do not exist. As one friend put it, they taught (or teach) a "watered down" form of the Scriptures.
Friends, don't get me wrong, I don't think a church has to preach Hell and damnation every week; as a matter of fact, I think emphasizing the love of God does more to bring people into the Kingdom than fear ever does. After all, the love of God is the greatest power in the universe, much greater than fear. Still, we must understand the enemy against which we battle, it is commanded in the Scriptures that we do so:
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Romans 17:17-190) (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
The book of James indicts us for our own sinful behavior, citing our "sinful desires", so, indeed, we have a natural born bent for evil within us. However, if Satan and his unfortunate followers are mere 'metaphors' for that evil, then Paul went way overboard, don't you think? "...rulers...authorities...powers of this dark world...spiritual forces of evil..."
I don't think this was just a little hyperbole on the Apostle's part; Paul was telling it as God inspired him.
The real question is this; do we elect to believe what the Scriptures say? Or do we pick and choose what makes us comfortable, and leave out the rest? If we do, we can find plenty of company, for as Paul also wrote to Timothy: "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1.What is your view of the truth of Scripture? 2.Do you regularly hear 'sound doctrine'? Or teaching meant to 'suit their own desires'? 3. What is your response?
INTERESTING THOUGHT ON TRUTH:
"Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that, unless we love the truth, we cannot know it."
Blaise Pascal
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
ListenDaily - 21 April 2009; Truth
ListenDaily - 21 April 2009; Truth
I am going to change gears here, in response to this question I received:
"Someone I work with told me they are a Christian, but that they don't believe in Satan or Hell, that they are metaphors for evil, not a real being or a real place. What do you think?"
Well, I am not surprised. According to a recent poll by George Barna, most Americans do not believe in Satan or the Holy Spirit. ( http://www.barna.org/ ) The short answer is, that they are falling for one of Satan's slickest schemes.
However, the answer to this is not short, nor is it simple. Satan works wherever he can, to influence people to not believe he exists, or that God exists. Among people, there are those outside the church with a variety of flawed thinking. Then there are those with whom I have the most difficulty, those teachers and preachers inside the church with not only false, but dangerous teaching.
"I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil."
(Romans 17:17-190) (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people..."
From the charlatan I heard preaching on television last night, who was twisting Scriptures to convince people to send him money, to those in pulpits who twist God's Word, intentionally or not, in order to move people to a view of God that is man-made, false teaching is rampant.
For a few days, we will look at the types of lies that are being fed to believers today, and how to stand up to them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1.What do you think of the Satan question? 2.Have you ever heard false teaching in your church? 3. What did you do?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS ON TRUTH:
"Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that, unless we love the truth, we cannot know it."
Blaise Pascal
I am going to change gears here, in response to this question I received:
"Someone I work with told me they are a Christian, but that they don't believe in Satan or Hell, that they are metaphors for evil, not a real being or a real place. What do you think?"
Well, I am not surprised. According to a recent poll by George Barna, most Americans do not believe in Satan or the Holy Spirit. ( http://www.barna.org/ ) The short answer is, that they are falling for one of Satan's slickest schemes.
However, the answer to this is not short, nor is it simple. Satan works wherever he can, to influence people to not believe he exists, or that God exists. Among people, there are those outside the church with a variety of flawed thinking. Then there are those with whom I have the most difficulty, those teachers and preachers inside the church with not only false, but dangerous teaching.
"I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil."
(Romans 17:17-190) (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people..."
From the charlatan I heard preaching on television last night, who was twisting Scriptures to convince people to send him money, to those in pulpits who twist God's Word, intentionally or not, in order to move people to a view of God that is man-made, false teaching is rampant.
For a few days, we will look at the types of lies that are being fed to believers today, and how to stand up to them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1.What do you think of the Satan question? 2.Have you ever heard false teaching in your church? 3. What did you do?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS ON TRUTH:
"Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that, unless we love the truth, we cannot know it."
Blaise Pascal
Friday, April 17, 2009
ListenDaily - 17 April 2009; First things first
ListenDaily - 17 April 2009; First things first
"So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." (Matthew 28:8-10) (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him."
We all have moments of doubt and fear, do we not? At minimum, we have moments in which we are not fully focused on God and go about our day, our job, our schoolwork, our church work, looking somewhere besides at Him.
Then we remember. Something happens...a song...a voice...a Scripture...something...and we remember, or re-refocus on Him. So what do we do next? If we receive a moment of comfort from Him, what do we do? Or if we get an answer? A direction? Or when He brings a sense of peace...what do we do next. Quite often, I'm afraid, we appreciate the moment and move on with whatever we were about.
I think the women in this story offer the perfect example of what we should do. They were full of fear, anxiety, and grief; then they saw Jesus. Then, immediately "they came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him".
You see friend, their response was not just about them, it was about Him! Surely they were relieved, but in their relief they worshipped their Lord, for their lives were about Him. That is what we should do. When we are afraid, we should worship. When He brings peace, we should worship. When we want to ask for something, first we should worship. Before we teach, preach, or witness, we should worship.
We should worship on Sunday morning.
And every other day.
We exist to worship. Eternity will be worship. If we want to be closer to Him now, we must worship.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Do you agree that worship should be our primary function ? 2. When and where do you worship? 3. Is it more than Sunday morning?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS ON WORSHIP:
"Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't." John Piper
"No sort of defense is needed for preaching outdoors, but it would take a very strong argument to prove that a man who has never preached beyond the walls of his meetinghouse has done his duty. A defense is required for services within buildings rather than for worship outside of them." William Booth
"If thou beest ever so exact in thy morals, and not a worshiper of God, then thou art an atheist." William Gurnall
"So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." (Matthew 28:8-10) (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him."
We all have moments of doubt and fear, do we not? At minimum, we have moments in which we are not fully focused on God and go about our day, our job, our schoolwork, our church work, looking somewhere besides at Him.
Then we remember. Something happens...a song...a voice...a Scripture...something...and we remember, or re-refocus on Him. So what do we do next? If we receive a moment of comfort from Him, what do we do? Or if we get an answer? A direction? Or when He brings a sense of peace...what do we do next. Quite often, I'm afraid, we appreciate the moment and move on with whatever we were about.
I think the women in this story offer the perfect example of what we should do. They were full of fear, anxiety, and grief; then they saw Jesus. Then, immediately "they came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him".
You see friend, their response was not just about them, it was about Him! Surely they were relieved, but in their relief they worshipped their Lord, for their lives were about Him. That is what we should do. When we are afraid, we should worship. When He brings peace, we should worship. When we want to ask for something, first we should worship. Before we teach, preach, or witness, we should worship.
We should worship on Sunday morning.
And every other day.
We exist to worship. Eternity will be worship. If we want to be closer to Him now, we must worship.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Do you agree that worship should be our primary function ? 2. When and where do you worship? 3. Is it more than Sunday morning?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS ON WORSHIP:
"Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't." John Piper
"No sort of defense is needed for preaching outdoors, but it would take a very strong argument to prove that a man who has never preached beyond the walls of his meetinghouse has done his duty. A defense is required for services within buildings rather than for worship outside of them." William Booth
"If thou beest ever so exact in thy morals, and not a worshiper of God, then thou art an atheist." William Gurnall
Thursday, April 16, 2009
ListenDaily - 16 April 2009; Fear not!
ListenDaily - 16 April 2009; Fear not!
Friends, this is not an intensive analysis of the first Easter, but rather a variety of things that strike me as, well, striking.
"The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." (Matthew 28:5-10) (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
Characters in the Gospels are told "fear not",or"do not be afraid", or something similar, over twenty times. The angels told Zechariah, Joseph, Mary, and the shepherds to "fear not". The other occurrences were from Jesus to a variety of people. In this passage we have both. First the angel tells them "Do not be afraid..." and it is understandable. They were afraid that Jesus was dead a,d the angel is assuring them otherwise.
But then they see Jesus, and know Him. They fall down and worship Him. Their greatest fear suddenly relieved, Jesus is not dead, and yet He tells them "Do not be afraid."
I wonder why.
Maybe it is because, no matter how much you love someone, seeing a resurrected person would be unsettling.
Or, maybe His return might seem to signify that the Jews and Romans would redouble their attempts to break this movement.
There are many other possibilities. In looking at all of the 'fear nots' and 'don't be afraids', I think there might be another message here. When the 'fear not' message came from an angle or from Jesus, it was often followed by a need for action and/or understanding by the hearer. "Do not be afraid...take Mary as your wife." "Do not be afraid...just believe." "Do not be afraid...come to Me on the water." "Do not be afraid...go and tell..." And this is a command, He does not say 'try not to be afraid'.
I think that whenever we deal with God, our tendency is to be afraid. Not just because He is the Almighty, Creator, Jehovah God, but also because Satan leaps in when he sees us getting close to God. He whispers the lies in our ears...'Be afraid, you're not good enough.' 'Be afraid, God's not real.' 'Be afraid, you'll fail.' "Be afraid, you're not smart enough.' 'Be afraid, you're too young...you're too old...you're too...''
Jesus' closest followers spent part of three days under constant attack, hearing Satan screaming out at his apparent victory. With Jesus' resurrection Satan was bound to redouble his efforts. Jesus knew this.
And so, before He sends them off to "go and tell", He gives them peace, He takes away fear. And it is not a hollow phrase, spoken by someone who is suffering from fear Himself. The words of Christ are power! Remember? "Even the wind and waves obey..." And that message, that commandment, that promise is for you and I as well.
So friends, when God calls us to a task, a place, or an understanding, we must remember that He has already told us...already commanded us; "Do not be afraid."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Has God ever called you out of fear?
2. Why do you think He prefaced so many things with this command?
3. What does this say about His love for you?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS ON FEAR:
"He whose head is in heaven
need not fear to put his feet into the grave."
Matthew Henry
"Jesus promised the disciples three things-:
that they would be completely fearless,
absurdly happy and in constant trouble."
G.K. Chesterton
"Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God,
and I care not whether they be clergymen or laymen,
they alone will shake the gates of Hell and set up the kingdom of Heaven upon Earth."
John Wesley
"The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying.
He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, and prayerless religion.
He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray."
Samuel Chadwick
Friends, this is not an intensive analysis of the first Easter, but rather a variety of things that strike me as, well, striking.
"The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." (Matthew 28:5-10) (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
Characters in the Gospels are told "fear not",or"do not be afraid", or something similar, over twenty times. The angels told Zechariah, Joseph, Mary, and the shepherds to "fear not". The other occurrences were from Jesus to a variety of people. In this passage we have both. First the angel tells them "Do not be afraid..." and it is understandable. They were afraid that Jesus was dead a,d the angel is assuring them otherwise.
But then they see Jesus, and know Him. They fall down and worship Him. Their greatest fear suddenly relieved, Jesus is not dead, and yet He tells them "Do not be afraid."
I wonder why.
Maybe it is because, no matter how much you love someone, seeing a resurrected person would be unsettling.
Or, maybe His return might seem to signify that the Jews and Romans would redouble their attempts to break this movement.
There are many other possibilities. In looking at all of the 'fear nots' and 'don't be afraids', I think there might be another message here. When the 'fear not' message came from an angle or from Jesus, it was often followed by a need for action and/or understanding by the hearer. "Do not be afraid...take Mary as your wife." "Do not be afraid...just believe." "Do not be afraid...come to Me on the water." "Do not be afraid...go and tell..." And this is a command, He does not say 'try not to be afraid'.
I think that whenever we deal with God, our tendency is to be afraid. Not just because He is the Almighty, Creator, Jehovah God, but also because Satan leaps in when he sees us getting close to God. He whispers the lies in our ears...'Be afraid, you're not good enough.' 'Be afraid, God's not real.' 'Be afraid, you'll fail.' "Be afraid, you're not smart enough.' 'Be afraid, you're too young...you're too old...you're too...''
Jesus' closest followers spent part of three days under constant attack, hearing Satan screaming out at his apparent victory. With Jesus' resurrection Satan was bound to redouble his efforts. Jesus knew this.
And so, before He sends them off to "go and tell", He gives them peace, He takes away fear. And it is not a hollow phrase, spoken by someone who is suffering from fear Himself. The words of Christ are power! Remember? "Even the wind and waves obey..." And that message, that commandment, that promise is for you and I as well.
So friends, when God calls us to a task, a place, or an understanding, we must remember that He has already told us...already commanded us; "Do not be afraid."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Has God ever called you out of fear?
2. Why do you think He prefaced so many things with this command?
3. What does this say about His love for you?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS ON FEAR:
"He whose head is in heaven
need not fear to put his feet into the grave."
Matthew Henry
"Jesus promised the disciples three things-:
that they would be completely fearless,
absurdly happy and in constant trouble."
G.K. Chesterton
"Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God,
and I care not whether they be clergymen or laymen,
they alone will shake the gates of Hell and set up the kingdom of Heaven upon Earth."
John Wesley
"The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying.
He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, and prayerless religion.
He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray."
Samuel Chadwick
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)