Author: thischicksinpeace

As you read this verse, come at it from the perspective of HOW this can help you be unafraid~

Romans 8:35-39

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No.

In ALL THESE THINGS we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

NIV

Ok folks.

If you did not read that out loud then I seriously recommend reading it again but do it this time OUT LOUD.

There is power in those words, is there not?

I mean, can I get an AMEN here?!

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There is POWER…POWER….WONDER WORKING POWER….

(I sure hope you are singing that song now! And if you don’t know it- go Google it!)

Let’s pull this passage apart~

For scriptural context please remember that these are the apostle Paul’s words written in a letter to a church in Rome. My Life Application Study Bible note writes this:

These words are written to a church that would soon undergo terrible persecution. In just a few years, Paul’s hypothetical situations would turn into painful realities. This passage reaffirms God’s profound love for His people. No matter what happens to us, no matter where we are, we can never be lost to His love. Suffering should not drive us away from God, but help us to identify with Him further and allow His love to reach us and heal us.

NIV Life Application Study Bible

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The passage quoted in the verses above by Paul is from Psalm 44:22 where the writer is crying out to God to redeem His people OUT of His unfailing love for them. It is a reference to people fighting a battle without God and coming up short of a victory leaving those defeated defenseless to bring glory to God’s name.

As a commentary writes, these words may sound blasphemous (“we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered“), but instead they are spoken out of great supplication- which essentially means “with begging”. It seems like the author is saying to the Lord, “Although we know we stepped away from You, God, and did this on our own, please help us anyway!”

As I first read this passage, my thoughts about putting that verse from Psalms in the middle of all the others was confusing. However, with this new understanding, I can see that Paul perfectly used an Old Testament reference for those who had an appreciation of the Psalms to recognize.

And it fits beautifully.

Let’s back up, then, and read it again, shall we?

Romans 8:31 kicks off this segment with the popular verse of “if God is for us, then who can be against us?”

GOD IS FOR US.

First and foremost, before we go deeper into our own verses, we MUST recognize what that means.

I would like you to humor me with an exercise I learned through a class about spiritual formation: we take a verse and break it up by putting different emphasis on the different words to watch the meaning really take shape.

Here we go:

GOD is for us.

God IS for us.

God is FOR us.

God is for US.

The emphasis on GOD causes us to reflect on WHO He is…who is He to you?

The emphasis on IS tells me that this is current news – not past tense. It is not “He was” nor is it “He will be”…it is “He is“.

The emphasis on FOR suggests that He is not our enemy, He is not going against us. God is on our side.

The emphasis on US is that you and I are included in all of this. Paul is not directing this statement to a certain person only, but to all who believe in Jesus. That is pretty incredibly, if you ask me!

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Moving forward now to our verses of the day using this new knowledge to propel us along~

Since God is for us, then who or what could possibly separate us from the love of God?

With God on our side, who or what could stand in between us and God’s love?

NOTHING and NO ONE that’s what.

So.

What stands in the way for you to be able to believe that?

And why would knowing that about God’s love –that there is nothing you have done or will ever do, nor anything anyone else could do to you will keep you from it– help you to be UNAFRAID?

Paul writes a list for us…

Trouble~ Anybody have any trouble in their life right now?

Hardship~ things going smooth sailing for you or not quite at the moment?

Persecution~ feeling oppressed or rejected or misunderstood?

Famine~ are you going through a dry spell or are you just plain hungry???

Nakedness~ do you have what you need?

Danger~ are you fearful for your very life?

Sword~ are you fighting a battle?

Psalm 44:22~ have you stepped away from God and are fearful He won’t help because of that?

How can LOVE help me with all that? Any of that?

Because God IS love. God’s love is never ending. God’s love is faithful. God’s love is patient, kind, gentle, and good. God’s love is unmerited. God’s love is unconditional. God’s love never leaves.

LOVE changes things…transforms people….restores relationships.

Love NEVER fails.

Love overcomes.

Love SAVES.

For God so loved the world that He sent His only Son so those that believed in Him would have LIFE.

(John 3:16)

When I am in trouble, the love of God that overcomes, saves, never fails, that gives life is what is FOR me.

When I am in danger, the love of God that is never ending and is unconditional is what I have going FOR me.

If I have stepped away from His presence and acted out on my own, His love that changes people, never leaves, and is faithful is what is FOR me.

THAT KIND OF LOVE GIVES ME CONFIDENCE IN THE FACE OF WHAT CAN MAKE ME AFRAID.

That kind of love is what empowers me to claim verse 37 boldly:

Through all these things (all those things listed above that would try to keep me from seeing or sensing the love of God) WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS through Him who loved us!!!

That’s like saying IN SPITE OF all those things, I am still a conqueror in Christ because He loves me.

That’s crazy, isn’t it?

All my imperfections normally keep people away…keep people from loving me….or keep me from letting people love me.

But, THROUGH those imperfections I am loved AND I can be a conqueror!

What does that mean to you? To be a conqueror?

I think of a hero…a warrior….someone brave and strong.

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A “conqueror” or a “warrior” is not usually the description I would use to describe myself, especially when I am feeling afraid. But, it IS the character quality that I need to identify when I am afraid in order to overcome my fear!

And this verse? It tells me THAT I AM MORE THAN A CONQUEROR BECAUSE OF GOD’S LOVE FOR ME!

Because of my blatant refusal to be anything less than transparent, I will share my personal truth. I am currently living in a state of fear. Covid-19 has entered into my home and I have never felt more vulnerable in my entire life.

It is like an invisible enemy living under my roof, trapped inside my husband, and looking to break out from him to find a new victim. I do not like to think of myself as weak, but having a compromised immune system means I am at higher risk for a virus that is more vicious than anything our healthcare system has ever seen. With the knowledge that my extremely healthy and strong husband has contracted the virus, my own suppressed system has suddenly become more highlighted.

If HE can get this and be sick with it…then that means that I certainly can as well.

If HE can get this and be sick with it, then my strong teenage sons are also at risk more than I had wanted to believe.

I never doubted the dire possibilities of this virus and we have not been consciously lax in our efforts to maintain safety and yet….here we are.

I feel I am in danger.

I feel I am vulnerable.

I feel we are in trouble in this world due to this virus.

There are so many around me who are facing hardships because of Covid or in spite of it with other issues…and Covid is complicating everything.

Here comes that confidence…BECAUSE OF THE LOVE THAT GOD HAS FOR US, WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH CHRIST as we face whatever is lying in front of us making us afraid.

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I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39

“These verses contain one of the most comforting promises in all Scripture. Believers have always had to face hardships in many forms: persecution, illness, imprisonment, even death. These could cause them to fear that they may have been abandoned by Christ. But Paul exclaims that it is IMPOSSIBLE to be separated from Christ. His death for us is proof of His unconquerable love. Nothing can stop Christ’s constant presence with us. God tells us how great His love is so that we will feel totally secure in Him.

If we believe these overwhelming assurances, we will not be afraid.”

NIV Life Application Study Bible

Let me say that again:

IF WE BELIEVE THESE OVERWHELMING ASSURANCES, WE WILL NOT BE AFRAID.

What I do is talk to myself…I remind myself of the power of God’s love that is inside me when I am scared. I remind myself of His promises when waves of anxiety crash over me.

I remind myself that I am more than a conqueror.

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Romans 8:28

And we know with great confidence, that God (who is deeply concerned about us) causes all things to work together (as a plan) for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.

AMP

After spending quite a few studies in the Gospels, we have now jumped to the letters of the apostle Paul. This particular passage does not mention being unafraid, but it can certainly give us a reason to be.

This passage is from the book of Romans which is a letter that Paul is writing to the Christian church in Rome. His letters are expressions of encouragement to the believers that are under severe persecution for their faith as they live in region where Caesar rules and considers himself to be a deity. This was an incredibly dangerous time for Christians who worshipped Christ as King and not Caesar.

This is a well-read passage and has been passed on from believer to believer as a way to encourage one another to maintain HOPE in the face of trials.

But it is also quoted in ways that are found to be unhelpful as it can be interpreted to mean that all things have a way of “working out for the best” for a believer….when that is not always the case.

If interpreted that way, a person can easily become confused when their situation does not work out quite so well.

Does that mean they do not love God enough?

Could this verse mean that my BAD situation is a part of God’s purpose and plan???

I have a personal story about this verse that I share often in the grief support class that I help to facilitate.

Let’s read that verse again -this time in a different translation- and then I’ll tell you my story.

Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

NIV

If you have been following my writings, you may know a little bit about my history: one of my very first blogs tells of my story. But, for the sake of better understanding and a way for me to connect to this passage in order to help YOU connect to it, I’ll refresh your memory about me.

I must say….this blog is rather real and raw- I find I am hesitant to even share these thoughts as they are ones I hold close inside. But, in the scope of a person who desires full transparency, here I go…

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I was raised in a Christian home that went to church every Sunday and Wednesday. My brother and I loved going to church and loved being a part of our youth group! I would (with great anticipation) attend at least two “church camps” each summer and looked forward to weekend retreats, as well, throughout the winter.

My faith was very real and I was fairly well-informed of the Bible as a teenager.

However, due to frustrations and disillusioned after a change in church leadership, I left for college without a strong desire to seek out Christian fellowship or corporate worship. You see, I had become discouraged with “organized religion” and felt myself to be “above” the need for it.

That arrogance set me up for a journey away from the presence of God that I was too blind to notice.

I quickly began to live life MY way. I got busy with school, with fun, with friends, with my career, with more fun…I began to experience a reckless side of life that I had been sheltered from and I took chances with my own safety as well as the safety of others.

This continued as I grew into a thirty-plus year old wife and mother with a stable job as an RN. I kept my faith on the back burner – it was not really forgotten, but it certainly was not a priority to use either.

Let’s just say that it would have been hard to know I was a Christian from the way I behaved or spoke. There were times, however, that I knew it would be appropriate to pray for someone or (as crazy as it sounds) encourage others to lean into their faith or go to church.

I just did not want to be influenced by God in a way that my lifestyle was going to require changing. I was “fine” just the way I was.

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Until.

In 2009, my sister in law died of alcoholism.

She was 41 to my 34 years of living.

She had three kids under the age of 12 to my two under the age of 6.

I knew her drinking was different than mine…but it did not seem by much.

And it killed her.

That moment brought me to my knees.

I can still feel it in my memory…the hard floor underneath me as I collapsed to the ground in my dining room when my husband (her brother) left our home to join his parents at her bedside.

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I had no one I felt I could call.

I had no one who was able to come over to comfort me.

In the days to months that followed, I grew confused, conflicted, angry, and then numb. I slipped into an empty space where I could not feel anymore. Frankly, I no longer wanted to.

My coping skills consisted of pretending I was “fine”, staying busy, and having a few cocktails each day to “settle” my ever- growing anxiety.

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Unfortunately, this is the point where having caring, Christian parents who love you (and loved my sister in law as well) became an issue.

They wanted to help.

How dare they, right?

They wanted me to feel better…to find some peace…to change my own ways so I did not end up dead as well.

Their efforts were to pray consistently behind the scenes for me and to attempt to “help” in the only way they knew how:

they kept reminding me of my faith.

They reminded me of Bible verses that had been prayed over me as a teenager. They reminded me that praying to God would help. They reminded me that going to church was a good idea and that I used to like going. They reminded me of praise songs that I could no longer sing because the words would get clogged in my throat if I attempted to try to sing.

The more they reminded me, the more angry I became.

And then they declared the verse for today…out of love for me and with good intentions…

Good ole Romans 8:28….”God works all things together for His good”.

My response was rather embittered~

Oh yeah?

He does, huh?

Cuz this sure don’t look or feel good.

In a moment, I shut down completely to them…to God….to any comfort that could possibly help.

My anxiety grew with my drinking habit.

My insomnia laughed at me.

My fear of something else happening put an ice shroud around my heart.

And a Scripture about God working things for good is supposed to help me?

That verse was like acid on my tongue.

There was no good in this situation.

There would be no good in this situation.

I was hopeless and defeated about it.

Fast forward a few months of misery, after a couple of weeks of personal counseling (which I highly recommend if you are in despair!). I found myself walking into a church of all places.

I had seen an advertisement for a GriefShare class and felt something inside me warm up a little as I contemplated attending. When I went to the first class, I was hung over and pretty much expecting to be asked to leave or to have a fireball from heaven rain down on my hypocritical butt!

Neither happened.

Instead, I found a place that taught me how to grieve.

Once I gave myself permission to grieve, I was suddenly in position to receive comfort.

Jesus, in Matthew 5:4, tells us that blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.

First, I had to mourn.

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As I learned more about God and began to experience His comfort, my heart began to thaw. I started to feel again. I started to want to feel things again. I started to want to care about people again and to let them care about me.

That meant my parents too.

Needless to say, they were thrilled beyond all measure to know I had chosen to go to church for help: I like to say that desperate people do desperate things….even go to church!

They were even more thrilled to watch my life be radically changed by the One who comforted me.

A year later, my marriage fell apart.

-Sorry, there is no easy way to say that one-

Again, I was face to face with the tension of God’s goodness and His plan for my life and my reality. It made no sense that I would be brought to a new place in life due to my relationship with Jesus, but that my marriage would fail in that transformation.

After one horrible weekend away from each other, with me resting in the comforting presence of the Lord and my husband gone to decide what he wanted out of our life together; he came home to me.

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Almost 9 months later, my husband gave his heart and life to Christ. Six months after that, we were volunteering as youth leaders in our church’s youth group. We were attending church as a family and had changed the trajectory of our family’s future forever.

Enter in that darn verse of Romans 8:28…

My sister in law died in 2009.

I was in absolute despair in 2010.

My marriage was almost over in 2011.

Our lives were dramatically changed by Christ as we lived for Him as a family in 2012.

THAT year I made a Christmas card and sent it to everyone we knew.

It had a bunch of pictures of our year together and the caption said only one thing:

And WE know that in ALL things God works FOR THE GOOD of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

“Good” doesn’t always look the way WE think it should or will. “Good” doesn’t always happen on our timeline either. God’s purposes can be very different from mine…but His good is so much better than I could have ever imagined…and His timeline makes more sense as I look back.

God did NOT take my sister in law…she died. What God did is what He does best~

He brought what was planned for evil and used it for good.

My life could have be destroyed by the alcoholism that took the life out of my best friend. My marriage could have been demolished in the wake of that grief. My children’s future could have been a legacy of godless living and alcoholism.

BUT GOD…

His goodness and His purposes…all because we love Him.

And we love Him because He first loved us.

Now, I have confidence to claim this verse when fear is again encroaching on my doorpost…I KNOW what God’s goodness can do in the face of what IS NOT GOOD. I have seen His mercy, grace, protection, provision, and restoration in my life, my husband’s life, our family’s lives, our marriage, and in countless other people we have been blessed to know since the day evil had been planned.

I can be UNAFRAID.

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John 14:27

Peace I leave you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and DO NOT BE AFRAID.

NIV

These are the words spoken by Jesus not too long before He was arrested to be crucified. These are the words spoken to His friends before the most unimaginable thing was going to happen to Him right in front of their eyes. These are the words spoken to give His friends comfort after He died a death that would make no sense to them. These are the words spoken to those closest to Him so they would be remembered much later when they, too, would be persecuted as He had been.

A question to ponder~

What would YOUR last words be to those you love if you knew you were going to die?

Jesus offered comfort that only He could give in the form of peace that would transcend any and all understanding.

Jesus offered peace in the middle of intense sorrow and fear.

Jesus told them to NOT BE AFRAID.

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“The end result of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives is deep and lasting peace. Unlike worldly peace, which is usually defined as the absence of conflict, this peace is confident assurance in any circumstance; with Christ’s peace, we have no need to fear the present or the future.

Sin, fear, uncertainty, doubt, and numerous other forces are at war within us. The peace of God moves into our hearts and lives to restrain these hostile forces and offer comfort in place of conflict.

Jesus says He will give us that peace if we are willing to accept it from Him. If you life is full of stress, allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with Christ’s peace.”

NIV Life Application Bible Study Note

I must be honest; when I began this Lectio Divina on being unafraid it was based on the idea that during a time of political uncertainty that we were facing as a nation prior to a presidential election in the middle of a social crisis while dealing with a global pandemic it might be a good topic focus on.

Because, you know, that is a lot of stuff going on.

2020 has been nothing short of surprising twists and turns with a little bit of “just when you think it was bad, things got worse” going on.

Today, as write this, I am feeling the pressure of a viral surge as it comes closer and closer to those I know and love. It is coming closer to where I work in the hospital.

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There are those who think fear is irrational; that we should not be ruled by it; that we should not succumb to the precautions recommended because that would mean we have bowed down to what is threatening us.

Perhaps they are right.

However, to not be afraid is easier said than done.

Telling me to NOT BE AFRAID does not necessarily help me to be unafraid…but, since this is Jesus talking, I figure I better try to grasp what it is that He is saying and how I can achieve what it is He is asking of me.

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Within this passage, it is important to remember that we have the whole story of the Gospels; the disciples did not. In the Gospels, at least three different times Jesus told His disciples what was going to happen to Him; that He would be arrested, that He would suffer, and that He would die.

But they could not comprehend what He was talking about…it made no sense to them that their Messiah was going to die as Jesus told them He would.

As we read this passage over again we must remember that the disciples would not understand why Jesus was telling them to be unafraid.

He was telling them so they would remember it later when being unafraid was going to be important. He was telling them so we would read them too.

My peace I leave you is not any ordinary kind of peace…This is Jesus saying MY peace I give you.

It is HIS peace.

The peace of God is given to us.

I do not give as the world gives.

When the world gives us something, it usually has conditions attached to it. There is rarely never something offered for nothing. Usually, there is a price to pay on our end to get what is offered. Usually, it is limited as well.

The WORLD= conditions, limitations, and a price to pay.

God?

Unmerited.

Unlimited.

Unconditional.

Do not let your hearts be troubled and DO NOT BE AFRAID.

How can He say that?

It’s all because of His peace… unlimited, unmerited, unconditional peace.

The peace of God looks like Jesus sleeping on the boat while a storm was raging and the disciples feared their boat would sink.

Jesus slept through it because He was in complete peace.

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What are you afraid of?

In these days of Covid there certainly is much to worry about…to be scared of.

How can I be unafraid and be at peace???

I think on good things.

I remember the faithfulness of God.

I tell myself that I am loved.

I read the Word to be encouraged.

I watch things that edify me.

I listen to things that lift my spirits.

I talk to the Lord and tell Him I am afraid.

I recieve His peace.

Still afraid?

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I repeat the process.

I don’t know about you, but my tension is beginning to rise.

I now personally know people who are SICK with Covid-19. They are not “just positive”- they are sick. The hospitals are full. The staff that work in them are stretched thin.

I personally know people who are really ill from their medical conditions. I know others that are waiting to find out if there is any treatment for what what ails them…so they battle frustration on top of the overall situation.

I have been informed of someone I knew through youth leadership may have died by suicide.

There are BIG issues globally. There are big issues locally.

There is so much uncertainty. There is so much sickness. There are so many hurting.

Can you feel it too?

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The verse to dive into today is one we have gone over a few days ago…but the passage told by the perspective of the disciple John gives it a new view. Before, I wrote about it from the perspective of Peter as he joined Jesus in walking on the water…today, there is something else I need to see. It is found in the words of Christ Himself.

Here we go~

John 6:16-21

When evening came, His disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. When they had rowed three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water, and they were terrified.

But He said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.”

Then they were willing to take Him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

NIV

The back story to this passage is that Jesus fed 5,000 people (with leftovers) after teaching all day. John tells us the reaction of the crowd after witnessing this incredible miracle: they intended to make Him king by force.

Can you imagine what your response would be after witnessing five loaves of bread and two fish continually being replenished to feed a crowd? I dare say we have just solved world hunger, haven’t we?? There will no longer be a need for food stamps! We will never have to wait in grocery store lines ever again! All we gotta do is put THIS GUY in charge and the system is fixed!

However, Jesus wasn’t going to step into His role as King that way…under human standards.

He slipped away to be alone with the Lord.

John 6:15

Jesus, knowing that they (the crowd) intended to come and make Him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by Himself.

NIV

The other Gospels inform us that the disciples KNEW to cross the Sea of Galilee and that Jesus was planning on joining them at some point. The issue of HOW He would join them never seemed an issue worth mentioning…they simply knew He would.

So, they left in their boats.

As per the physical features of the Sea of Galilee (being roughly 650 feet below sea level while also surrounded by hills) a storm rapidly appearing was not out of the ordinary. The storms were sudden and fierce. Most likely, though, they would blow out as fast as they would blow in.

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After rowing for 3.5 miles -in the night- such a storm blew in.

This was the moment where they saw Jesus approaching on the water.

Picture that for a moment…you are on a fairly small boat with your friends in the middle of the night when a pretty severe storm begins. This storm causes the water to get really rough so the boat is pitching around in the darkness. You can’t see much around you because the stars and moon have now been covered by the storm clouds. Your sense of direction is completely altered. It is hard to discern if the water that is hitting you in the face is coming from the sky as rain or from the waves of the sea as they crash into the boat.

As you, and your friends, are frantically looking for a way to gain control over this situation you see something out on the water.

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Frankly, it looks like a ghost and it is freaking you out.

However, the shape looks so much like Jesus that you can’t stop yourself from trying to focus your eyes onto Him…just to be sure your mind isn’t playing a trick on you in the night.

Suddenly, He confirms it. He says, “it is I.”

Then He says the most wonderful thing a person could possibly hear when they can’t see, they are scared, their very life is in danger:

“Do not be afraid.”

These are the words I am stuck on:

It is I…Do not be afraid.

A commentary note says that one reason the disciples did not know who Jesus was and were afraid that He was a ghost of some kind is because they were not expecting Him to appear and to help them.

Let that sink in for a minute.

The disciples were afraid because they were not expecting Jesus to appear and to help them.

Is THAT why I am afraid?

Seriously folks, we are in a storm. Man. Those waves are crashing hard. We cannot see what is ahead and, if we are being honest, what is behind is pretty murky thanks to the confusion led by the media and our politicians here in the U.S.

Am I not expecting Jesus to appear and to help???

He – Jesus- says because it is Him….that He is there….they do not need to be afraid.

Are we not told in the Bible that Jesus will NEVER leave us or forsake us? That God will go before us? That a Comforter has come to guide and support us?

And, yet, we are still afraid…aren’t we?

I am.

What gives me comfort are those first three words spoken by my Savior…

“IT IS I.”

How reassuring is that?

It’s like He is saying, “I AM HERE”.

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I need that reminder in the surging waves of a storm that threaten to capsize the boat I am sailing through life in.

I AM HERE.

I need that reminder when I am in the dark and I cannot see where I am supposed to go next.

I AM HERE.

I need that reminder when I can’t hear the TRUTH over the storm that tries to confuse me.

I AM HERE.

I need that reminder when I am afraid of what storm will pop up next.

I AM HERE.

I need that reminder when I am scared.

I AM HERE.

My friends, here is the nitty gritty… Jesus IS here with us.

Look for Him: expect that He WILL show up and He WILL help you.

If you let Him, He will get into YOUR boat too and help you to suddenly be where you were heading.

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The key here to all of this is will you let Him into YOUR boat?

Is anyone else sick and tired of being afraid of the UNKNOWN??

If, when, or how God is going to take care of it all??

I tell you what… I am so tired of feeling fearful about what may happen next, what is around the corner, what it is that I do not know.

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I figured you should know that THAT is my mindset going into this post today. I am sick of what I do not know or understand and how that makes me feel…uneasy…uncertain….afraid.

Prayerfully, I am hoping for some resolution to my mood while delving into our next verse:

Luke 12:22-34

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable are you than birds!

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!

And do not set your heart on what you eat and drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

DO NOT BE AFRAID little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

NIV

What worries you?

• Covid?
• The election and/or future of our nation?
• Your mortality?
• Your finances?
• Your health?
• An illness in another?
• THEIR mortality?
• The prodigal son that is still wandering?
• Finances?

There certainly is a lot out there to concern us…and many of these things listed are on my heart right now, today.

My heart aches for what I cannot control.

My heart hurts for what I do not understand.

My heart agonizes over what I cannot fix.

• 

With that in mind, let’s look at the context of this verse~

When we see a passage like this it is good to KNOW who is doing the talking and who is doing the listening. This passage is contained in a lesson Jesus is giving to His disciples…He is talking to His friends and other people are, naturally, just listening in.

As we reread the words of Christ, see Jesus talking to His friends….He is speaking words of encouragement, comfort, and wisdom to the people He is doing life with; that He cares about immensely.

See Jesus talking to YOU.

YOU are the disciple listening to the person you have chosen to follow; that you gave up everything to follow; that you have watched perform miracles; that you have declared you believe in; that you call a friend; that calls you HIS friend.

• 

Take the time to read it again from that perspective…

What stands out as the listener??

My trusted friend is standing in front of me telling me not to worry.

1. He says don’t worry about things like food or clothes~ one may perceive Him to mean to not worry about the things that He can provide.

In the book of Genesis, remember when Adam and Eve were suddenly ashamed of their nakedness after they ate the forbidden fruit? Chapter 3:21 tells us that God clothed them.

Even after their disobedience, God clothed them because He felt compassion for them in the shame they felt. Notice, He did not insist on their nakedness after they had covered themselves with leaves nor did He insist that they were being foolish to be ashamed of their nakedness in His presence.

What did He do? He provided clothes.

Remember in the story of the Exodus when the Israelites were wandering in the desert complaining of being hungry? In Chapter 16:11 we are told that God rained down bread from heaven in the morning and at twilight they were given meat in the form of quail.

The bread was called manna. It is said to look like frost on the ground and to taste like wafers made of honey (Exodus 16:31). They were given JUST ENOUGH for the day: if they tried to pick up more than what their family needed it, the leftovers would rotten. On the eve of the Sabbath, however, whatever they collected would be enough for that day AND the day of the Sabbath.

God provided what they needed daily to eat.

It is important to note, as with Adam and Eve, this provision comes AFTER the Israelites complained about being hungry and wanting to return to their captivity so they could eat. Exodus 16:7 tells us that God provided the food because He heard their grumbling.

What does that tell me when I am thinking of Jesus encouraging me to not worry about what it is that the Lord will provide for me? That He understands what it is I need and hears my requests…even in my shame and grumbling about it…He not only HEARS me, but He still provides for me.

2. Life is more than food and clothes…

Food seems pretty important, and clothes too I suppose…but worrying about what you get, when you get it, and how much you will get is not.

Perhaps that is the point?

God provides what you need: remember there are other things happening around you that is more important than YOU getting to eat and YOU getting clothes. Maybe it is time to pray for your eyes to see what the Lord is seeing all around you…

3. Ravens…

Another lesson about how God provides for His creation and they don’t do anything other than what they were created to do…God takes care of the rest. The birds do not grow their own food, they simply collect it. They collect what they need from where God provided it.

Why should we be any less significant than a raven and think He would not do the same for us??

4. Who of you can can add a single hour to your life by worrying?

Geesh. That says a ton right there.

• 

The last time I checked, worrying may actually take away an hour or two of my life instead of add to it! I waste more time when I worry. I am not being productive. I am not being purposeful. So, as Jesus asks, why do we do it???

Great question.

5. Lilies…

The beauty of creation is limitless. King Solomon with all his riches tried to recreate the bounty found in beauty around him, but fell short of the splendor of the garden growing outside.

Lilies are here today and gone tomorrow…yet still magnificent in their blooming.

Why would we be clothed with anything less when we have been given a lifetime to reflect the image of God in comparison to the short season of flowers?

• 

6. Do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink…

I am definitely the sort of person that can wake up dreaming of food! As a matter of fact, I am already thinking about what to eat for dinner tomorrow night and I have not had dinner yet today! For me, food and eating are things I like to think about. I like trying different recipes and going to a variety of restaurants whenever and as often as I can. I do not mind nor blink at spending a “small fortune” on a dining experience– much to my husband’s chagrin!

• 

I’m not going to lie…It can be fun to say I’ve been to such- and such- place to eat or went to so-and so’s for dinner.

HOWEVER~

It is not important to focus on something considered to be so frivolous…Jesus is telling us in this passage that those without faith ONLY think on such things…The reality is that God KNOWS I need to eat….Does WHAT I eat matter MORE that what is provided?? Is WHERE I eat what really matters in life? Is HOW MUCH I spend on food a priority where my finances are concerned?

7. We are to seek first His Kingdom.

If I put the mind of Christ in front of me…my desires become His desires. My dreams become His dreams. My plans become His plans.

• 

His Kingdom becomes MY kingdom.

8. DO NOT BE AFRAID…

My Father in heaven has given me His Kingdom because He is pleased with me. I do not need to be afraid of what I feel I do not have or will not have enough of.

• 

I have all the Kingdom has at my disposal. I have all I need because it is provided in the Kingdom.

“Working and planning responsibly are good; dwelling on all the ways our planning could go wrong is bad. Worry is pointless because it cannot meet our needs; worry is foolish because the Creator of the universe loves us and knows what we need. He promises to meet all our needs, but not necessarily our desires.

Overcoming worry requires: 1) trusting in God- pray to Him instead of worrying. 2) maintaining a perspective on your problems- develop a strategy to address and correct your problems. 3) find a support team who will pray for you to find wisdom and strength to deal with your worries.”

NIV Life Application Study Bible Note

• 

In light of all that I am worried about…

I need to pray to the Lord to take care of what I cannot and to trust that He will.

I need to keep my eyes open to what is going on around me so I can keep a proper perspective on my situations.

I need to practice an activity of thankfulness in regards to my life and those things I am worried about.

I need to remember that God will provide all that I NEED.

I need to remember He is gracious in my grumbling and shame in regards to HOW MUCH I may worry or what I KEEP worrying about.

I need to remember to NOT BE AFRAID because I am a KINGDOM dweller. I AM on the side of victory. I HAVE received the inheritance due to being a child of God.

• 

How is everyone doing? Are we UNAFRAID yet?? It seems that there is more and more to be concerned about these days, isn’t there? I mean, there is nothing like a politically charged election in the middle of a global pandemic to set a person’s teeth on edge!!

• 

A horror movie could do no better than what we’ve got going on right now!

Before we dive into today’s reading, the question to be asking yourself as you read is this:

HOW DOES FEARING THE LORD REDUCE OTHER FEARS???

Luke 12:4-7 (Jesus speaking)

I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those that kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs on your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

NIV

The book of Luke is written by Luke, a physician. He writes his letter to present an accurate account of the life of Christ and to present Him as the Savior. He was not Jewish, but instead a Gentile, so his writing is not swayed by any Jewish tradition: just facts based on observation.

Sounds like a doctor-way of thinking, doesn’t it?

In the chapter that precedes this passage, Jesus is teaching His disciples many things such as how to pray, about a house divided not being able to stand, about the Son of Man being a miraculous sign that will not be believed, about letting your Light within shine, about the importance of cleanliness on the inside instead of ritualistic cleansing that only affects the outside, and finally a warning about hypocrisy: why do we worry about the judgment of man more than the judgment of God?

Being hypocritical means to live a self-serving life.

It reduces faith to rigid rules.

It means that looking good is better than actually being good.

What makes it hypocritical is that a person vehemently protests that this is how they live. They blatantly deny that they are self-serving. They may instead claim that they are God-serving.

Non-Christians are constantly watching Christians for signs of hypocrisy. They watch for anything that contradicts what they perceive is written in the Bible to be true.

In all truth, they may read the Bible out of an effort to be more aware of what is written in it to watch for in order to condemn a believer.

In all truth, they may be more aware of what the Bible says than the Christian does because they are actually reading it more than a Christian is.

That is a sobering thought, is it not?

• 

As Christians, we should be as educated -or more so than- as those who oppose us. Can we say we are?

As Christians, our life should emulate the One our “name” reflects? Can we honestly say it does?

Does our life “look” like Christ if our “Christian-eze” begins and ends on a Sunday?

Does it even begin and end on a Sunday now that most churches are meeting virtually or do you find it is getting easier and easier to not tune in weekly for a Biblical lesson given by a person chosen and anointed to teach you?

Are we more concerned with what we look like on the outside than what God is trying to reveal, cleanse, purge, prune, or weed out on the inside?

Fear of opposition or ridicule can weaken our witness for Christ. Often we cling to comfort or peace, even at the cost of our walk with Christ.

NIV Life Application Study Bible Note

It is time to go reread our passage with that thought on your mind!

What stands out??

1. In a day where so many people are afraid of what or who can harm the body, it is interesting that Jesus very clears says to NOT BE AFRAID.

When Jesus is speaking, He is able to do so in a three-fold way:

• the Jews of that day were under severe oppression from the Romans. The threat of imprisonment, torture, or death was constantly on their threshold. Jesus knew they needed great encouragement to stand up UNAFRAID of those who could harm them physically.
• Jesus also knew that the persecution of Christians was going to get worse after His death. Everything He said to the disciples was for a reason: a lesson and a warning. He would want them to recall this teaching later when their very lives were being threatened because of their belief in Him.
• Jesus was speaking to US. He knew we would need this lesson, as well, because ALL those who believe in Him would need the reminder to NOT BE AFRAID during difficult times.

The Jews were facing literal, physical threat to their bodies from the Romans.

We, in 2020, are facing literal, physical threat to our bodies due to Covid-19 and the social implications from it.

There are those, in 2020, that fear they are at risk for physical harm from those that have different beliefs than they do.

Fear is a funny thing.

You do not have to agree with others that something is scary…it does not have to be scary to you…BUT IT STILL IS REALISTIC AND SCARY TO THEM.

Fear is SUBJECTIVE not OBJECTIVE.

Fear is PERSONAL.

Most of the time, fear is about ME and not about YOU.

So, Jesus says, in the light of real fear about physical harm being done to you, DO NOT BE AFRAID of them or what they can do.

What they can do is limited to this physical world.

I have no interest in suffering before I die anymore than the rest of you do, so we need to think on this one some more…why should we NOT be afraid of what someone or something can do to our physical forms? Even if it stops at the physical…it still HURTS…right?

I believe it is because Jesus is talking about something called PERSPECTIVE.

• 

Jesus says, DO NOT BE AFRAID of them…instead you need to think about being afraid of this ~ the One who “deals” with you after you die.

• 

Well…that sure isn’t a topic people like to talk about much….death and what happens AFTER death.

Maybe we like to think about heaven as floating on clouds with little angels playing harps while we eat an unlimited amount of calorie-free but still full fat ice cream with all our friends and family joyfully around us as the ultimate paradise.

If that were the case, and everyone who ever walked this earth (the good, the bad, and the ugly) joined us there….then where is JUSTICE? where is the need for JESUS?

Jesus came to offer us a way to eternity with Him because JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED. We all need to be accountable to the condition of our heart –how clean is it- in comparison to how good we looked on the outside.

Jesus says, do not be afraid of them…instead be afraid of Him…

2. Fear the One who has the power to throw you into hell…

Wow. Again. This is a tough thing to read…to write…to talk about. But it is the PERSPECTIVE WE NEED IN OUR PRESENT SUFFERING.

Why do we worry so much about this life with having so little thought given to the afterlife?

The measure of the projected life span of a person is 80 years. This 80 years is being compared to ETERNITY. That looks like an inch on a timeline compared to infinity.

Everything we do in the here and now reflects into eternity…whether it is spent in glory or not. WE have a choice…but boy, do people NOT like being forced to make a decision.

I have to BELIEVE in Christ in order to receive the gifts of God???

Yes, you do. It is the way it is.

Why? Because of JUSTICE.

If all people were to receive the gifts promised by God without believing in Him, then how do you account for the reasoning behind the people YOU do not feel worthy and yet they still receive? Are you the judge who determines ownership of salvation? Do you really want that responsibilty?

If all get in…then all get in. Period.

Doesn’t sound fair, does it? Especially when you think about how there are really awful people out there….I bet those people think they are deserving of good things too, you know?

We should think about it more often….the length of eternity. Our end destination for that length of time. The One who makes the decision of where we go based on what is NOT seen by others- which is the condition of our hearts. Why believing in Jesus and an eternity with Him is worth the heart change by Him. How merciful and just God is. That Jesus paid the penalty for our sins so we would not have to in eternity.

• 

So, Jesus says, do not be afraid of them, be afraid of Him.

Proverbs 14:7

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.

ESV

3. Remember the sparrows…

The perspective offered by Jesus is expanded when He describes the character of God.

He reminds us of the wonder of creation by mentioning the sparrows. He reminds us that God is intimately involved with all aspects of what He created: He knows the number of hairs on your head.

Look at the order in creation and notice the lack of chaos. Think of the seasons and the magnificent changing of them quarterly. Think of the power of the weather and the obvious restraint showed in it. Think of the vastness of the universe and our small planet held in perfect proportion to the sun to maintain our rotation and gravity.

• 

IF HE CARES SO MUCH ABOUT ALL THAT….THE SPARROWS….THINK HOW MUCH HE CARES FOR AND REMEMBERS YOU.

DO NOT BE AFRAID for you are worth more than the sparrows.

You may feel threatened. You may feel your very life is in danger.

Perhaps you have an illness that is untreatable.

Perhaps you are in an abusive relationship and feel there is nowhere out.

Perhaps you are held captive by an addiction that is ruining every aspect of your life.

Perhaps you are a person that is rejected, oppressed, or even hated because you are different on the outside than the “average majority” seems to be.

Perhaps you have been socially “cancelled” for your beliefs.

DO NOT BE AFRAID of them….of those that could harm you…of those that do harm you.

Instead, think about this:

2 Corinthians 4:17

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

NIV

I realize that personal harm, physical or emotional threats, or illness do not seem neither light nor momentary...but in an eternal perspective…they are.

The Apostle Paul, who wrote Corinthians, was beaten, imprisoned, and ultimately killed for his refusal to conform to society’s rules of acceptance. He refused to stop speaking of the glory and wonder of salvation in Jesus Christ.

I doubt his troubles felt light when he was whipped.

I doubt his troubles seemed momentary as he waited for his execution.

Yet, he maintained FOCUS on what was to come…an eternity with Christ.

Jesus said DO NOT BE AFRAID, keep your focus on the One WHO CARES FOR YOU MORE THAN HE DOES EVEN THE SMALLEST THING IN CREATION.

Fear the Lord and accept the fountain of life….

Fear the Lord and turn away from the snares of death.

• 

Luke 5:1-11

One day Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around Him and listening to the word of God, He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.

He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then He sat down and taught the people from the boat.

When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deeper water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But….because You say so….I will let down my nets.”

When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break! So they signaled to their partners to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

When Simon Peter saw this,he fell at Jesus’ feet and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” So they pulled their boats up on shore,left everything and followed Him.

The context of this passage is found in the beginning verses…This is the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. He is gaining popularity with the people as He preached throughout Galilee. As verse 1 tells us, people were crowding Him as they listened to Him. He was pushed to shoreline as He spoke.

The next thing to focus on is the fishermen. They had fished all night and, as verse 2 writes, were cleaning up their nets. That means they were done fishing.

The perspective of this passage is best understood when we place ourselves into the role of the fishermen especially when we are seeking for reasons to be unafraid.

I think I feel like telling the story as Simon Peter~ he is too much fun to resist imitating!

Goodness guys…I am tired. Whatta rough night- we caught nothin’.

You hear that guy over there talking? That’s some good stuff he’s sayin’. Dang it…my nets all tangled. Hey John, stretch that out will ya? Help a brother out!

Heeeeey….that guy’s getting into MY boat! Hey, John…JOHN! That GUY is in MY boat! Do I say somethin’???

Oh wait…he’s talking to me.. What mister? You want me to push my boat out a little from shore so you can keep talking to these folks? Ummm…well, yeah…I can do that. Sure. Yeah. No problem.

(perhaps looks back at John and shrugs)

Man…is this guy ever GOOD. He sure knows what he is talking about! I mean, he like REALLY knows his stuff and he speaks in a way that even I can understand…Not gonna have to talk to John about it later at all- like I got this meaning and stuff!

I kinda like listening to this guy…and I kinda like that I get to be the one in the boat with him too! I feel like this guy knows me or something.. like I could really trust him.

Wait a minute…what did you say Mister? You want me to go farther out into the sea and fish again? Ummmm…aren’t you still talking or something to these folks? And, I…uh…just fished all night and all and …uh…didn’t really catch anything…so..like… we’re done for the day and all. And ..I mean .. you’re a real good teacher and all ..but, I’m kinda the fisherman here and sorta know my stuff here as, you know, the guy who fishes for a living… and it’s not really the right time of day to fish so…

(perhaps looks to John, who is watching from the shore, with a question on his face and another shoulder shrug)

Wait a minute…This guy is just looking at me. Like, he’s not mad or anything… just, like waiting for me to do as he asks. Like he is waiting for me to trust him with this or something.

Geez. If I push out to sea with my nets at the wrong time of day people are going to think I AM CRAZY. But this guy…there is something in the way he is looking at me…waiting for me to just do as he asked… I think I wanna do it .

Um, so…like I said we’ve done it all night.. but ok. Since YOU asked, I’ll do it.

Oh. My. Gosh.

Something is happening here!

Hey John! Something is happening here!! Hey, guy~ what on earth is happening?? All these fish?! Where have they come from? HOW DID THIS HAPPEN??

He’s just looking at me again. Man, those eyes say so much without him saying a word! He is smiling at me…but, like not in an “I told you so way”. He is honestly enjoying MY joy! How can someone look at me with so much love and happiness over a few fish?

Wait a minute! This isn’t a FEW fish!! Uhhh…guys! We need some help here! John- hey John! Get your boat!! There is more fish than you can imagine! This guy has done something here!

Cool…John, good. Grab the net and let’s haul these fish in! Oh my gosh!! They’re breaking the nets; there are so many!! Whatta haul!!

(perhaps looks to Jesus who is still smiling while helping with the nets)

The boats are sinking guys! There are too many fish!! We gotta get to shore!! Hurry guys!

I can’t help but keep looking at this guy! Who IS he? He is someone special that is for sure! He is way TOO GOOD for me to hang around! God has BLESSED this guy and I am no good…just no good. I gotta tell him that…It breaks my heart to tell him to go away but I just can’t be with him . .I’m nowhere near good enough to be his friend.

I’m seriously on my face in front of this guy…it’s like he is from God or something and I gotta be away from him. I’m a sinner and there is no place for me with a person from God.

I would rather eat the dirt than look up at him right now. I. Am. Not. Worthy.

How that HURTS to say out loud!!

Wait a minute…what did he just say? Did he just say “DO NOT BE AFRAID”???

I’m going to do WHAT?! Catch MEN and not fish?

This guy…wants ME to leave my job, leave my family, leave all that I know so I can FOLLOW HIM and catch men?

Look what he just did in the water with the fish.

Look at how he speaks with authority and people can’t help but listen to him and be changed by what he says.

Look at how I am changed by what he says.

I don’t know WHO he is exactly but I DO KNOW that he is of God for no man can do what he just did.

How could I possibly say NO? How could I possibly let him walk away from me and leave me here? If he can do this with fish, I wonder what he can do with men???

John, hey John- I’m going! Let’s go, Andrew! Dad will understand! Hey- John….WAIT UP man! He asked me first!

Have you ever been in a situation where you should be the voice of experience and someone else comes along to offer you advice? Or to tell you how to do your job?

Most of us don’t like that too much.

Neither would Peter, I wouldn’t think. We know him to be about as “normal” as a person can be so it is good to see him respond to Jesus as honestly as he does.

He watches Jesus.

He questions Jesus.

He asserts his knowledge into the situation.

And he submits to Jesus out of shear faith.

Other than looking foolish, what did he have to lose by tossing those nets back in the water when every bit of experience told him it would be a waste of time to do so?

Looking foolish, dealing with our pride, is often a hindrance to doing something out of obedience to God.

We are fearful of telling our testimony, aren’t we? Why is that??

We don’t want to sound like we are bragging?

We don’t want to come across as not politically correct?

We don’t have all the answers about our faith so we are afraid to set ourselves up for failure if others ask a question?

We don’t think people will care??

We don’t think others would believe us??

Peter was scared. He had a lot to lose; his credibility, his career, his personal job security, his friends, his family…

But at the words of Jesus to not be AFRAID, Peter stepped forward in faith to follow Jesus.

He saw what Jesus had already done and couldn’t wait to see more.

Dig deep inside yourself for a moment…Is there something inside you that you know God wants you to do?

Is to turn your life back to Him?

Is it to tell others what He is doing in your life?

Is it to change a habit that is destructive?

Is it to fully submit your EVERYTHING to Him?

Whatever it is …look at what Jesus has already done… Now, imagine what else He can and will do if you obey His calling?

Stepping out in faith is always risky.

It normally comes with a sacrifice of sorts.

It usually involves letting go of something.

It is ALWAYS better than you imagined it would be in the process of obeying.

Faith is an action word! We have to do something with it to see what good God has in store for us next.

MORE ANGELS!

Luke 2: 8-10

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified!

But the angel of the Lord said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.”

NIV

I’m not going to lie~ this one seems hard to breakdown! I have heard the retelling of this event every year at Christmas and have sung the carols that declare the wonder of it so many times that I have not allowed myself to dive into the depth of its meaning!

This one we will definitely be doing together!

Context first!

Jesus was born in the city of Bethlehem. Caesar Augustus wanted a census taken of the entire Roman world, so all the citizens of his rule needed to return to their own town to be registered. Joseph, out of the ancestral line of King David, was from Bethlehem. Mary gave birth to Jesus while they were there.

This was a humble birth for a King as He was born in a stable and placed into a manger because they had no other place to stay while in Bethlehem.

We are told that NEARBY there were shepherds who were watching their sheep in a field. Shepherds were not considered to be much in the eyes of society. They lived outside in the wild. They ate and slept amongst their sheep. They most likely smelled like their sheep. They were rough and tough outsiders.

So, here is Mary and Joseph -strangers in a strange town- giving birth to their first born son (who THEY know was conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit) in a barn. The biggest news of their life has just occurred without any fanfare. They had NO ONE nearby to tell. They had NO ONE nearby who cared….if they did, they wouldn’t be in a barn would they??

The biggest news in the history of the world had just occurred and NO ONE KNEW about it.

Let’s read through the verses again, but this time put yourself into the role of the shepherd. I believe there is a Christmas carol that calls them “lowly”…You are a lowly, lonely, dirty, rough-around-the-edges, no one wants you at their dinner table shepherd.

What jumps out to you as you read through these three verses?

1. Keeping watch of their flocks at night…

I would imagine it was dark out. It had to be quiet. It was so dark it would be difficult to see the shadow of a sheep moving versus a predator creeping in. It was so quiet they could probably hear the sounds of the sheep breathing.

They were most likely on high alert for anything abnormal getting close to them as they lie vulnerable to attack under the open sky.

2. An angel appeared

That would wake you up, wouldn’t it?? Was he in the sky floating around or did he appear on the ground right in front of them??

3. The glory of the Lord shone around them…

There is this word – SHEKNINAH– that is Hebrew for the dwelling or settling of the divine presence of God.

Wherever the invisible God becomes visible, and whenever the omnipresence of God is localized, this is the Shekinah Glory. In Latin, it is described as brightness, brilliance, or splendor.

In Genesis, the glory of the Lord walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

In Exodus, the glory of the Lord descended onto Mount Sinai three months after the exodus from Egypt when Moses was given the law (Ten Commandments).

In Exodus 33 we are told the glory of the Lord would descend upon the Tabernacle doorway when Moses went inside to speak with God.

When Moses would leave the presence of the glory of God, either from the Tabernacle or Mount Sinai, his face would shine radiantly . The people were scared by the change of his appearance so he would cover his face until it was time to be back in the Lord’s presence.

The presence of the glory of God – THE SHEKINAH OF GOD– was BRILLIANT, BRIGHT, and TRANSFORMING IN ITS RADIANCE.

4. They were terrified...”Do not be afraid“.

It was the dark of night, an angel just appeared, the GLORY OF GOD was shining all around them….yeah, they were scared.

Wouldn’t you be??

But the angel tells them DO NOT BE AFRAID.

The prophet Isaiah tells of a vision he had that changed his life forever. In Chapter 6, he describes a scene of the holiness of the Lord. God is seated on His throne with His robe’s train FILLING the temple. Winged seraphs, with their faces covered in God’s presence, continually cried, “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS THE LORD ALMIGHTY”.

At the sound of the declaration of His glory, the doorposts and ground would shake as the temple itself filled with smoke.

Isaiah fell to his knees in horror that he should be killed to be in the presence of God due to his state of uncleanliness. He declares that HE IS RUINED FOR HE HAS SEEN THE LORD!

In Exodus 3, Moses first encountered God at the Burning Bush. As he approached it, he was told by the Lord to take off his shoes as he approached for where he stood was HOLY GROUND.

The glory of God, the SHEKINAH OF GOD, is fearfully wonderful. It is HOLY. It is PURE. It IS the presence of Yahweh (one whose name could rarely be spoken out loud).

It is to be feared out of reverence, but not to be feared out of fright.

God is here….DO NOT BE AFRAID.

That is the message from the angel.

5. “I bring you GOOD news that is for ALL the people”.

The shepherds, the low of society, were chosen to receive the good news of Jesus’ birth that would be for everyone to hear. It did not matter who they were or what they did, they were chosen as worthy to receive this great joy.

In “normal” society, the news of the day filters down from the top (the most important or influential) to the bottom (those least consequential). In Christ’s Kingdom, the rules are flipped upside down!

Those who are last will now be first!

What is the take away from all this? Especially in the context of being UNAFRAID….

No matter who you are, no matter what you have done, no matter where you come from YOU ARE WELCOME IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD.

God desires to RADIANTLY TRANSFORM you with His holiness.

God desires to shine His glory into the dark areas of YOUR life.

You are worthy.

You matter.

The GOOD NEWS of GREAT JOY is for YOU.

He can purify your heart and make you new in His presence.

DO NOT BE AFRAID OF IT.

Let Him in.

Friends, I apologize! These “twelve” days have already taken me almost thirty days to write!! We still have quite a few more to go for this “month long” challenge!

I am beginning to wonder, though,…

What shall I write about next??

Feel free to offer ideas for another Lectio_Divina study topic when BEING UNAFRAID is completed!

Open your Bibles, folks, we are going to be reading an oldie but goodie…

LUKE 1:26-38

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

“How will this be”, Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.”

“I am the Lord’s servant”, Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.”

Then the angel left her.

NIV

Most of us are very familiar with this passage…especially those who celebrate Christmas or have watched the Charlie Brown Christmas Special year after year.

Regardless, let’s put it into context as per our practice.

The telling of this event is written by Luke, a physician. We must remember that detail because the temptation to reflect on Mary’s story as fictitious is tempting…As a doctor writing these events, Luke KNOWS how babies are made and how UNBELIEVABLE these events will sound once recorded and shared.

BUT, YET, HE WROTE THIS LETTER ANYWAY BECAUSE HE BELIEVED ON FAITH THAT WHAT HE WROTE WAS POSSIBLE WITH GOD.

I think it is good to remember that Luke’s credibility as a doctor in the eye of his contemporaries was on the line by writing this account as truth.

Mary was a young, poor, teenage girl who was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph (who happened to be in the ancestral line of King David). She was not anyone that would have stood out in her time: women were inconsequential in those days.

We first met the angel Gabriel all the way back in the Old Testament book of Daniel (Daniel 8:15) where he (Gabriel) was instructed to tell Daniel the meaning of a vision that God was showing him.

We see Gabriel again in the previous chapter of Luke when he had been the angel chosen to visit Elizabeth’s husband Zechariah to prophesy the birth of his son, John the Baptist.

Luke 1:19 tells us this about Gabriel: he is one who stands in the presence of God and is sent to tell good news.

With all that in mind, I guess we need to put ourselves in Mary’s shoes when we read this passage again.

Here we go…What stands out as you read this a second time?

1. Mary was greatly troubled by his words…

An angel suddenly appears in front of Mary and she is troubled by his words???!!! What words troubled her do you think?

The next part of that verse says she wondered what kind of greeting this might be…

So, it seems Mary is troubled (worried, afraid, concerned) over the greeting of an angel that said the Lord is with her and she is highly favored.

She felt it was ominous? Did she think she was going to die? Was she afraid she would be hurt? Was she scared she was going to be asked to do something she didn’t think she was ready for???

Whatever it was, I HIGHLY DOUBT Mary had ANY IDEA AT ALL that the angel of the Lord was going to tell her she was about to become pregnant with the Savior of the world!!!

But, she was still troubled by the unknowing….

You ever been there?

Someone wants to share good news with you, but your mind goes to the worst case scenario first?

They got a promotion in their job…but, to you, that means they may move away.

The Lord has called them to do something in service to Him…but, to you, that means they may make new friends and leave you behind.

They are going on a wonderful vacation…but, to you, that means they could be hurt in a travel accident.

There is a lot to be afraid of in that UNKNOWN isn’t there?

I think we all have camped out in that campground before too- if we’re being honest enough to admit it.

2. DO NOT BE AFRAID…YOU HAVE FOUND FAVOR WITH GOD

Again, the reassurance of the angel Gabriel is NOT in an introduction of who he is or how he got there….it is found in who Mary is in the eyes of God.

Do not be afraid because you have found favor with God.

We could finish this right there.

Do not be afraid, my friends….why not? Because YOU TOO have found favor with God. How do I know that to be true?

John 3:16

For God SO LOVED THE WORLD that He gave His ONE AND ONLY SON, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

NIV

The purpose of this WHOLE passage is how much God loves us…He went to great IMPOSSIBLE measures to ensure that we KNOW it.

Do not be afraid for you have found favor in God.

God believed in Mary to do something for Him so she had no reason to be afraid!

3. Gabriel tells Mary the news of her upcoming pregnancy through the Holy Spirit and confirms the improbability of this truth by informing her of Elizabeth’s miraculous pregnancy.

Here’s the rub guys~

The testimony of others gives us confidence to step out in faith.

Do you think you CAN’T do something? Do you think something will NEVER happen for you?

When you doubt, it is important to ask God to help you with your disbelief! Look for the example of overcoming in other’s stories! Be encouraged by their memoirs of faith!

If you have not done it, READ HEBREWS 11 OUT LOUD! The testimonials of faith should speed up your heart rate in excitement as you read it

4. FOR NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD

Seriously, there it is folks… NOTHING. IS. IMPOSSIBLE.

After all, WHO is God?

He is sovereign.

He is the creator of all things.

He is the beginning and the end.

He is omniscient.

He is omnipotent.

He is all things good.

He IS love.

KNOWING God allows you to TRUST Him. KNOWING God allows you to BELIEVE that what He says IS true.

Mark 9:24

Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!

NIV

5. I am the Lord’s servant.

Mary did not understand what the angel was telling her. She had no idea what was in-store for her…for her SON. Yet, she said yes.

She trusted God in her unknowing.

She trusted God in her fear.

She trusted God in her worries.

She trusted God with the impossible.

Have you been able to do that, friend?

Have you turned all that you are afraid of over to the Lord?

Have you found comfort in knowing that you have found favor in God and that He believes in you because He loves you?

There is FREEDOM in letting go of YOUR plan for your life and letting God have His way in you.

There is a promise for an abundant life waiting for you to grab onto only if you trust Him with everything…even those things that do not make sense…even those things that you feel like you need to hang onto as an anchor.

Our God IS the God of the impossible who is capable of doing immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine…He loves you. He cares for you. He wants only good for you and has only a good plan for you in His Kingdom.

I will pray that would be able to say YES, LORD…I am your servant and see what IMPOSSIBLE things He will do in your life today.

It’s RESURRECTION time!

Matthew 28: 1-10

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a VIOLENT earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightening, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

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 IS 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 woman 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 worshipped Him.

Then Jesus said to them, “DO NOT BE AFRAID. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

NIV

The context here is that this passage directly follows the crucifixion of Christ.

*Jesus was arrested on Maunday Thursday, after celebrating the Passover meal with His friends.

*He was arrested in the middle of the night in a garden where He was peacefully praying.

*He was beaten unjustly by the “religious” men.

*He was illegally tried in the middle of the night by these same men.

*He was taken to Pilate, where these “religious” men convinced the crowd to choose to CRUCIFY Jesus and release a MURDERER instead.

*He was painfully flogged.

*He had a crown of thorns pushed down into His skull.

*He was humiliated in His nakedness.

*He was forced to carry his cross of execution up the hill to Golgotha.

*He laid down onto the cross of His crucifixion- a weapon of absolute torture and humiliation used by the Romans.

*His hands and feet were NAILED into the cross before it was stood up to fall into place in a hole.

*He hung there in agony, being ridiculed, for three hours while He gasped for every breath.

*He died there.

Because the next day was the Sabbath, the law forbade the Jews from doing any kind of work at all so they could not properly prepare His body for burial.

His friends had to wait.

Jesus’ friends and family had to wait for 24 agonizing hours before they could treat the body of their Savior with the respect and dignity we all desire for our loved ones in their death.

They had to wait in FEAR that those who KILLED their Lord would also be coming for them.

They had to wait in FEAR over the uncertainty of their future…after all, they had invested THREE YEARS into following Christ. They were considered His followers and could be “wanted men”…”outlaws”.

They had believed He was the Messiah. They had believe that He was the Son of God.

And He was dead.

Now that we remember the story of Jesus’ death, go read that passage again. Let yourself into their moment of grief…feel their fear, uncertainty, doubt.

What words or phrases stand out in this passage?

1. The angel said “Do not be afraid…He is risen JUST AS HE SAID”

Think about that for a minute.

Women come on the scene of a grave and see that the guards have been so scared they dropped as if they were dead by an earthquake, the appearance of an angel, and the stone rolling away..

This angel is sitting casually on the rock.

He says to “NOT BE AFRAID” (yeah, right -right?). “LOOK INSIDE” (the tomb??? Yup, go ahead and take a peek). “HE IS RISEN JUST LIKE HE SAID”.

It is one thing to be told “don’t be afraid”. It is a whole other deal be reminded WHY you shouldn’t be afraid. In this situation, the women are being reminded that Jesus had told them this was going to happen.

Jesus had been teaching His disciples and followers for three years. In those three years, He often spoke of His death and resurrection~ they just didn’t understand what He had meant.

How could they have??

Now, in this moment, what He had meant was revealed.

He is ALIVE. The tomb is EMPTY. He WILL see you again.

What an incredible reason to not be afraid!

What has Jesus also told us in advance as a way to tell US to not be afraid?

John 16:33

I have told you these things, so that in Me you will have peace.

In this world you WILL HAVE TROUBLE, but take heart!! I have overcome the world!

NIV

Jesus has told us that WE WILL HAVE difficult times…so why are we surprised by them?? Knowing in advance that in those times of trouble we will have peace is a reason to NOT BE AFRAID.

What else stands out to you in this passage?

2. The women were afraid yet filled with joy

I like this because their response is so paradoxical. They are both AFRAID and JOYFUL at the same time.

We are capable of massive ranges of emotions…it is possible to experience BOTH sides of life at the same time. You can be both grieving and relieved. You can be excited and apprehensive.

The mix up of emotions can feel confusing or chaotic but they are normal, natural feelings.

3. As the women worshipped at the feet of their RISEN SAVIOR, Jesus again reminds them to not be afraid.

Why did He do that?

I think it is because they needed to hear it from His lips before they could go do what it was He asked them to do next.

He needed them to not be afraid and then go and tell.

How many times do I have an experience that is SO wonderful and yet I am leary to tell anyone else about it??

I was just told of an amazing salvation story…a rededication of a life to Christ…a true God encounter.

He hesitated to tell anyone, even those who loved him most and would celebrate the most sincerely with him, out of fear.

Fear of what?

These are MY thoughts, not his:

Fear of rejection over this Good News

Fear of disbelief that his experience was not real

Fear of criticism that his transformation would not last

Hard to believe, isn’t it?

But aren’t those the LIES the enemy fills out heads with?

They won’t care. No one cares. You’re a liar. You’re a failure. You will never succeed.

The JOY of Jesus’ resurrection was incredible for the women in that moment… However, THE LASTING JOY CAME FROM THEIR SHARING THAT JOY WITH OTHERS.

What God does in our lives is incredible, isn’t it?

Sharing what it is He has done is even MORE incredible.

Revelation 12:11 tells us that the believers overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and the words of their testimony.

NIV

We are to NOT BE AFRAID and to GO TELL THE GOOD NEWS of what God has done!

Psalm 96:3

Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works and wonderful deeds among the peoples! For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised!

AMP

Dear Lord,

Help us to REMEMBER Your promises that You will never leave us in our fears…that You will give us Your peace instead.

Help us to embrace the wide range of emotions that you have given to us. Help us to NOT BE AFRAID of how we feel.

Give us the courage to go and tell of wonderful deeds! Help us to encourage others by our testimony!

Thank You Lord for overcoming the world.

Amen.