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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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!!

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

We’re going to be walking on water today!!

Matthew 14:22-33

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowd. After He had dismissed them, He went up on a mountainside by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw Him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s You,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to You on the water.”

“Come,” He said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught Him, “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshipped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”

Jumping right into the context of this passage, Jesus had just finished teaching and feeding over 5,000 people: remember the story? Jesus fed the 5,000 with five loaves of bread and two fish!

A mighty miracle, with leftovers, had just happened and the disciples were sent on their way across the lake ahead of Christ while He cleaned up after the crowd and had some much-needed one-on-one time with God.

“The fourth watch” of the night means it was the end of the night between 3am and 6am. As a “retired” night shift worker, it was the darkest and coldest part of the night…it was the time of night where a person was most tired when they were working and the time when the night seemed the quietest.

Putting all that together, it was very late in the night after a very long, productive day.

Let’s read the passage again, but this time think of yourself in the role of Peter!

As Peter~

Did you see all those leftovers we had guys?? Man, I thought we were going to have go buy food for all those people – Jesus sure brings in a crowd, doesn’t He??? Thank goodness that kid had that fish and bread! But, DANG fella’s, did you SEE all those baskets just keep getting filled again and again and again? How on earth does Jesus DO that??

Incredible!

And we have breakfast for tomorrow all taken care of now too! Anyone else hungry??

What do you think Jesus is doing? It sure is getting late! Or should I say, “early”! Ha! Do you get that one, John?? It’s “late” but it’s also “early”…I crack myself up!

Man, it sure is getting windy and wavy out here boys…this is a little boat and we are rocking around in it pretty good out here in the water! Shoot, it’s so dark out if we sink no one would even SEE us go down! It’s so windy, I doubt anyone could HEAR us either!!

Holy cow guys….look over there!

What’s that??

Do you SEE that????

Is it something blowing in the wind over there?? Like a sail or something?

Wait…no…that is a SHAPE of something…like a body.

What the heck??

How can a BODY be out here on the water in the middle of the lake?!!

Holy cow, guys! Is that a ghost???

Oh geez….it’s a ghost -I just know it!

Where IS Jesus?????

Wait!

Jesus!

What did it…I mean HE say?? Did He just tell us to NOT BE AFRAID? Did He say, “It is I?”

Could it be…???

Do you think…???

It…I mean HE…is getting closer!

Hey John~ I’m gonna call out to it…I mean Him…Ok? What do you think? Think I should?

I’m gonna… I’m gonna do it guys. It’s Him, I KNOW it’s Him!

(Clears throat)

Lord, if it’s YOU then tell me to come to you on the water!

-I know what I’m doing John, hang on, it’s cool…It’s gonna be fine…-

Did He just tell me to COME?!

(Deep breath in)

I’m COMING.

(leaps over the side of the boat and lands ON the water)

Holy cow, guys, I’m doing it! Hey, Jesus! Look at me! I’m coming to You!! I’m coming!

(Feels the waves crashing over feet and looks down)

Holy cow, I’m walking on water. I’m ON the water. How am I on the water? Holy cow, I’m sinking!! I’m sinking!

Jesus! I’m sinking!!

LORD SAAAAAAAVE MEEEEEEE!!

I’m going to drown! This is it! I’m done for! Wait- is that a hand?? Grab it Peter!! Dang it, you got to reach for it man!

I got it! I got His hand! He has me!!

Look at His face looking at me. I am so embarrassed, but He doesn’t look mad or scared at all. He is as calm as He ever is…He was never worried something was going to happen to me, was He?

Is He smiling at me??

I think I just heard Him ask me “why did you doubt?”

As we climb back into the boat together, my brothers begin singing songs of praise as the water around us calms again. They cannot believe what they just saw!! Jesus was walking on the water and so did I! That’s awesome stuff!!!

Why did I doubt what was happening when it was happening?

Why did I take my eyes off of Him to see what was swirling around me?

Why did I get so scared when Jesus was right in front of me standing on the water Himself??

Why did it matter that what I was doing seemed impossible or improbable when I was staring into the face of the One who does MIRACLES?

End scene.

When my eyes are on Christ, I am safe and able to do anything.

When my eyes are on Christ, I do not notice the things that threaten to harm me, crash over me, overwhelm me, or make me afraid.

When my eyes are on Christ, I am ABOVE the things that make me fearful.

When my eyes turn back to Christ, He hears my cry and saves me.

My friends, where are your eyes looking when you’re scared?

Lord,

Help me to see YOU in the dark.

Help me to have the faith to stand up when something is scaring me.

Help me to cry out to You and to grab on tightly to Your hand that is reached out to save me.

Help me to keep my eyes on You.

Amen.

Today we are looking at a very familiar passage found in Matthew 10 and DO NOT BE AFRAID is mentioned three times here in three different contexts!

Matthew 10:26-31

So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim it from the roofs.

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of the Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

1. Do not afraid of THEM

The context of this particular part of the passage ties in directly to what Jesus had been sharing with His disciples in the verses prior. The chapter itself begins with Jesus sending His disciples out on a training expedition of sorts~ He sends them on a mission to “practice” the work of ministry that they will need to carry on after Jesus returns to the Father. He gives them instructions on what to say, who to say the message to, what to pack, and whether to accept a wage or not.

In the instructions, Jesus warns them that their message of salvation in the Messiah, who has now come in Christ, MAY NOT be received by those listening. He offers encouragement to them on how to handle that situation.

His description of the scenario of rejection presented to the disciples presents quite the word picture: I am sending you out like sheep among the wolves (Matt 10:16).

Geesh. Sign me up for that task.

Wolves EAT sheep. Wolves STALK sheep. Wolves HUNT sheep. Wolves ATTACK sheep.

Good times. Sounds like a fun job.

The next section we must look at to better understand our passage is Jesus expanding on this “wolf” thing…He now enlarges His metaphor into the prediction that they will be persecuted by those who will reject them.

Let me get this straight, Jesus is sending His disciples out on a mission and tells them that their message is going to be FIERCLY rejected. But it will not end there? It is one thing to disagree with what a person says….it is a whole other issue to “shoot the messenger”.

Hate the message…KILL the messenger??

Jesus is very clear with His disciples that “all men will hate you because of me, BUT he who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:22).

THAT is what precedes our part of this chapter and Jesus telling His disciples to NOT BE AFRAID OF THEM.

To NOT BE AFRAID of the wolves.

Let’s go read verses 26-27 again.

Why shouldn’t they (the disciples) or why shouldn’t WE be afraid of those who persecute us…disagree with us…do not understand what we stand for…reject what we believe in???

I think I have to go on my own thoughts about this one… I think we do not have to be afraid because we are being told in advance that it is going to happen. We do not have to be scared of something when we know it will be right there in front of us. Jesus is not hiding anything from us. He does not sugar coat His message nor the reception of what He came to offer.

He tells us, plainly, that because persecution and rejection happened to Him it will happen to us: so we are to follow His example and not act surprised by it all– shaking and quivering silently in a corner as if we had been ambushed by those who reject our faith!!

Instead, Jesus tells us to go shout the Good News from the rooftops because the message of salvation IS NOT a secret or something to be ashamed of! Even if it has been whispered in the dark, the message will be revealed in the light!!

We are to BE ENCOURAGED and not be afraid!!

2. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body…

Not many of us have people trying to actually KILL us, so we need to reflect on this part a little harder.

In the context of persecution, the disciples WERE going to be hunted down like sheep and killed by the wolves for their continual declaration of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Ever since Jesus died and rose from the grave, there have been Christians martyred for their faith. It still happens today…and if you do not think that is true, then I suggest you do some research on the subject.

Here, in the U.S., we have been fortunate to be able live our lives as Christians freely~ Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Speech has been our safety net.

Recently, there seems to be more animosity towards Christianity than there had been in the past. In my personal opinion, through the hypocrisy of “fallen” so-called Christian leaders in the media, non-believers look rather disdainfully at the idea of the “religion” of Christianity. Due to hate-filled speech and actions on behalf of those who claim to be Christians, non-believers have no desire to come to our churches. Why should they want to? So they can be judged by those sitting next to them in worship??

That being said….the HEART of the message of Christ is not being heard as the messengers are being rejected more often. Therefore, persecution towards those truly following Christ is happening.

As shared before, we need to quit being surprised by that and staying quietly afraid in the corner.

However, we need to ask God to cleanse OUR own hearts, to take the plank from OUR own eyes, and to help us through the power of the Holy Spirit to PREACH THE TRUE MESSAGE OF CHRIST out of a genuine love for those who are lost that Jesus died to save.

I shall step off my platform now.

Another view of “those trying to kill you” and not to be afraid of them, is in regards to the OTHER THINGS that threaten us.

Are you afraid of being injured in an accident?

Are you afraid of dying because of an illness that has no cure?

COVID?

CANCER?

SUICIDAL DEPRESSION?

Are you afraid of being attacked and harmed physically/violently?

Jesus tells us to not be afraid of what CANNOT DESTROY YOUR SOUL.

Why? How would that help??

As believers, we are to live eternally with Christ…if our soul is safe with Him, then keep your eyes on HIM when something comes your way that can harm, destroy, or kill your body.

The harsh truth is that we are mortal beings. We are all going to die someday…it is an inevitable fact. We can count on that one truth for certain.

HOW or WHEN remains the mystery...if we are so fixated on what it is we fear will harm or kill us, then we miss everything else that is happening all around us.

And, I must ask, HOW DO YOU KNOW that the illness that plagues you or the fear of someone else harming you is going to be what kills you?

You don’t.

Many people survive something they never thought they could and die another day from something else.

I realize this is fairly morbid talk, but it needs to be shared.

Jesus tells us to NOT BE AFRAID OF THEM.

WHY?

3. Do not be afraid because you are worth more…

Read Matthew 10:29-31 again.

Jesus reminds us of how God cares for His creation, how well He knows what He created…and that we need to rest in confidence that God cares even more for us than He does everything else He created.

How can I be sure of that?

Because I was created in His image (Genesis 1:27).

YOU were created in His image.

When was the last time you REALLY looked at creation when you were afraid? Have you noticed the ORDER of things instead of CHAOS?

* gravity

*weather patterns

*sunrise and sunset

*gardens growing from little seeds

*season changes

*new births

*breathing in the “good” air and exhaling the “bad” air

*the complex yet orderly way our kidney’s function

Can you think of other things that can catch your notice when you are afraid? Something that will remind you that YOU ARE LOVED, YOU ARE NOT ALONE, YOU ARE CARED FOR?

There is quite a bit happening in these three “DO NOT BE AFRAID’s”…

Do not be afraid of them who persecute you or disagree with you

Do not be afraid of those that could harm your body

Do not be afraid because you matter MORE

YOU MATTER.

YOU ARE LOVED.

YOU ARE SAFE.

YOU ARE SEEN.

YOU ARE KNOWN.

The Storms

Matthew 8: 23-27

Jesus got back into the boat and His disciples followed Him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Lord save us! We’re going to drown!!”

He replied, “you of little faith, why are you so afraid?”

Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey Him!”

As before, we must look at this passage in the context of which it was written and THEN we can bust it apart line by line if we want to!

This passage follows the disciples witnessing many miracles done by Jesus. They watched Him heal people. They have listened to Him preach countless sermons including a slightly famous one titled The Sermon on the Mount.

The disciples have left their homes, their jobs, their families to follow Jesus because they KNEW He was special.

They KNEW He was no ordinary teacher.

They KNEW He was no ordinary rabbi.

Matthew 7:29 writes that He taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

They climbed onto a small boat that the 13 of them could fit snugly, yet safely, into so they could cross the Sea of Galilee. These guys were fisherman and accustomed to the tumultuous weather patterns that plagued this little body of water. They were also equipped to manage this boat they were in because they were familiar with this style of sailing.

The Sea of Galilee is 13 miles long and 7 miles wide, but it is 150 feet deep at its deepest with the shoreline being 680 feet below sea level. Storms could spring up rapidly over the surrounding mountains and stir the water to having waves up to 20 feet high!

When they began their journey, Jesus had finished teaching a large crowd, the water was calm, so off they went. The water was so calm and the day so satisfactory, Jesus FELL ASLEEP in the boat.

He was relaxed as could be….just sailing with his buddies after a good days work.

Let’s read the passage again:

Jesus got back into the boat and His disciples followed Him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Lord save us! We’re going to drown!!”

He replied, “you of little faith, why are you so afraid?”

Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey Him!”

What stands out to you?

1. “Without warning, a sudden storm came up…”

How many times in life has THAT happened? Life is just cruising along when SUDDENLY – WHAM!! A storm!

A few years ago, life was pretty stressful, and we thought we had all we could handle on our plate…and believed we were handling it: all things considered.

Then BAM!

My Crohn’s disease reared up with an abscess that required me to be hospitalized so it could be drained through a surgical procedure. I was so sick by the time I got to the hospital, I was now incredibly immunocompromised. That means the antibiotics used to treat my massive infection caused me to become sicker with another bacteria.

I have had Crohn’s for almost thirty years and NEVER expected my disease to take such a horrible turn to the left!! The recovery for all this is still ongoing even after two years…My disease is not the same as it had been; I am not the same that I had been because of it.

This was a true sudden storm.

Perhaps you have an experience too…an illness of your own that came out of nowhere? The death of a loved one that seemed unexpected? Or is it the intensity of grief after the death that is what is so unexpected??? Is it a job loss or change??

It most certainly can be COVID-19 for all of us…who saw THIS coming as a pandemic???!!

2. “Waves swept over the boat…”

Here is the thing…there can be storms and then there are the WAVES THAT KEEP CRASHING OVER YOU.

Those are the things that just keep coming.

That experience of two years ago? Well, we had waves crashing over us too…a depressed teenager living with us, the loss of relationships, AND one my best friends found out she had Stage 4 Colon Cancer that metastasized into her ovaries all WHILE I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL.

Prior to that?

My husband lost his job.

His dad died.

We were adjusting to a new job that included frequent travel for him so my husband was gone…a lot.

We were getting by…we had been keeping our heads above water for a few years…but my illness in conjunction with the other issues listed made me feel like I was drowning as the waves would not stop coming!

3. “The disciples woke Jesus and said “SAVE US, WE’RE GOING TO DROWN!“

You know what I notice here??

They were scared so they WENT to Jesus and told Him the truth! They cried out in their fear to the One they believed could help them.

Have you done that?

Do you need to do it again?

Going to Jesus, being honest with Him about how we feel and what we are afraid of, WAKES HIM UP TO HELP (so to speak).

We NEED to talk to our Lord and Savior and tell Him what is on our hearts…in the deepest most secret place inside us.

It may seem harsh to say, but why should He do all the work in the relationship with you? He does what you ask…He talks to you…and you don’t talk to Him?

4. “Why are you so afraid?”

This seems to be an unusual and perhaps not the most loving response our just wakened Savior has for His friends, right?

He was asleep because He KNEW they were and would be fine because He was with them.

They KNEW He was from God and did miracles with the authority of God. They saw people HEALED from their afflictions…and THEY WERE STILL SCARED?

He called them out for what they already KNEW about Him…why are you afraid, friends?? I am with you. You are already following Me, so follow My example and get some rest like I am.

Has God brought to YOUR mind the same question?

Why are you afraid beloved??

I am right here.

Have faith in ME.

5. “Then He calmed the waves and rebuked the storm and then it was completely calm.”

Wow.

Once they confessed their fear to their Lord, they were reminded of where and who their faith was founded on, and the storm was made calm.

I can honestly say my storm did not calm immediately.

Most of ours don’t.

BUT…because I continually cried out to God in my anguish, my confusion, my literal pain, my fear, and my hurt…PEACE CAME TO ME IN THE STORM.

Like I said, I am still recovering from my illness exacerbation of two years ago.

My friend has passed away after fighting her Stage 4 Cancer.

We are STILL in a pandemic of sorts.

Yet, there IS peace.

It is quiet. It is calm. It is not obvious. It can be hidden underneath the noise of doubts or busyness. However, it is there when I choose to look for it.

Jesus is with me in my boat.

Jesus is with you as well.

Do not forget that He is the One who can calm the raging sea.

Do not forget to call out to Him.

He is waiting and able and mighty to save you from drowning.

I must confess…this is challenging to write every day~ needless to say, I have not been able to do it every day. Maybe, though, in my pause for my job/life/etc…it gives you time to reflect on those things you are afraid of and how God can carry you through as He shows in these verses?

Isaiah 12

In that day you will say:

“I will praise You, O Lord. Although You were angry with me, Your anger has turned away and you have comforted me.

Surely God is my salvation;

I will trust and not be afraid.

The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song;

He has become my salvation.

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”

In that day you will say:

“Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done, and proclaim that His name is exalted.

Sing to the Lord, for He has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.

Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”

NIV

The context of this passage is that it was written by the prophet Isaiah. He is known as one of the greatest prophets chosen to speak for God. What he shared was rejected because what he shared in regards to repentance and the lack of was unpopular.

Imagine that…people didn’t want to hear that they needed to change their ways and return to a right relationship with God.

He was called to warn people of God’s judgement and punishment. The resounding cry from his lips was return, repent, and be renewed, then trust in God’s redemption and rejoice.

This particular chapter follows the prophecy of the coming Messiah through the line of Jesse (King David’s father -Jesus’ lineage is traced back to David). Prior to that good news, Isaiah spoke of the Assyrians coming to take the Israelites into captivity.

First, he speaks of horrible, bad news of captivity. In those days, that would mean they were removed from their homes, possibly separated from their families, and placed into whatever place the captives thought those captive would be most useful.

After this devastation, Isaiah declares a promise of the One who was coming to set them free – the Messiah.

Chapter 12 is the promise in the song of praise the people will sing in that day.

These words were spoken, or sung, by the Israelites for centuries as they endured persecution, captivity, oppression while they waited for the Messiah to come.

Jesus entered this world almost 700 YEARS AFTER THE BOOK OF ISAIAH WAS WRITTEN.

So…for 700 YEARS the people of God were encouraged by and chose to sing these words of praise and promise.

They were taken into captivity.

They were removed from their homes.

Their temple was destroyed.

And yet they still chose to believe the promise of God to be true for all those years.

I guess I have to ask this~

How long have you been waiting?

How long have you had to endure suffering?

It is a sobering thought.

Has it been 700 years?

Let’s read Isaiah 12 again…

What words or phrases stand out in this passage?

1. “Although you were angry with me”

This stands out to me because sometimes I feel that way. I feel like God is angry with me…that maybe He is punishing me. Whether that is true thinking or not, it sure makes me feel NORMAL to see others have felt the way I have and have declared those thoughts to the Lord.

2. “You have comforted me”

No matter what I have done, or thought I did, there is NOTHING that can keep the love of God away from me (Romans 8:39). He will always choose to comfort me. The question is, will I choose to recieve His comfort??

4. “I will trust and not be afraid”

Because God is my salvation (the One who delivers me from ruin, harm,or loss) I can trust Him. Will I CHOOSE to? When I trust in the Lord for who He is then I do not need to be afraid.

5. “With joy…”

I like the sound of that.

6. “Make known to the nations what He has done”

Do you declare the goodness of God? Do you tell others what He has done for you?

Do you think about His glorious things when you are afraid or only focus on the fear?

We need to really consider where our thoughts land when we are afraid. As we discussed yesterday, God does not wave a magic wand over you…you have to do your part in the action of faith.

If you say you believe, if you say you trust, if you say you have faith ..then what are you thinking about and telling yourself when you are afraid???

This passage speaks to the praise of God for who He is and what He does when He hadn’t brought to them the Messiah. They give praise because of the PROMISE.

We have the Messiah. Jesus has come. Not only that, we now have the Holy Spirit inside us to empower us, comfort us, counsel us, guide us,and to bring us peace.

If the people in Isaiah’s day, and for 700 YEARS after, could make this declaration of praise in times of trouble….can we do the same?

Our faith takes action on our part! And the time we need to flex those faith muscles is when we are afraid.

SHOUT IT ALOUD AND SING FOR JOY – no matter what your circumstance is- FOR GREAT IS THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL AMONG YOU.