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The Man Afraid

It's so easy to be afraid. Fear comes in so many forms. It can manifest itself in the shape of people-pleasing, in worrying that you aren't doing enough to be accepted; it can rear its ugly head in the shape of money, and not having enough of it; it has so many masks.

In relationships: fearing you're going to lose friendships if you are not a good enough friend; feeling like you are failing in a relationship if there are any problems; fearing being hurt to the point where you are afraid of stepping into new relationships...the list goes on.

In finances: worrying about whether or not you can keep your job; fearing you won't have enough to pay the bills; wondering if you will have to spend the rest of your natural life working with no results...the list goes on and on.

In health: wondering when age is going to catch up; fearing fragility; fearing death...the list goes on, and on, and on.

We are the man afraid.

Peter knew something about fear. In fact, you could go so far as to say he was ruled by it. He had a specific fear that ruled over him - the fear of people. He was terrified of what people would think of him, to the point that he succumbed to hypocrisy, sitting with the Gentiles at one moment and abandoning them the next (Galatians 2). Even worse, his fear of man led him to deny his Lord and Saviour (Luke 22). He was the man afraid of men.

How wonderful is the grace of God, then, in reaching out to Peter and chipping away at that fear. John 21 shows the healing touch of Jesus in restoring Peter to the knowledge of grace. The healing words of Jesus were a balm to Peter's fearing heart.

Slowly, ever so slowly did Peter change. Ever so slowly did he begin to lose his fear of man, learning instead the fear of God, and therefore the power, majesty, and love of God. In that Peter found rest - and we can too.

Change will come slowly in our lives as well, as we seek God and forsake those things we fear. As John Newton said,

"I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world—but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am."

If we recognize the work and power of God, and have faith in His promises to never leave us or forsake us - if we begin to understand, as Peter did, the incredible grace of the ever-gracious Father, the unending love of the eternally loving Christ, and the sanctifying presence of the powerful Holy Spirit, we will no longer be the man afraid. We will be courageous and bold for Christ.

Lord, help me to remember this lesson!

Amen.

Hey My Deliciously Intelligent and Incredibly Good Looking Peeps,

I've been sick for four days.

How have you been?

I'm starting to get better now, which means I'm feeling quirky and hilarious (when in reality I'm probably dull and boring. Extremely boring. I apologize right now.)

So anyway, I have new stuff on my blog. I'm writing this as a test to see if it works. It comes from feeling this quirkiness. I decide to try new things. I might take them off in a week, but then again I might not.

Now I'm so extremely tired that I'm using "extremely" more than once. I think that's cue for sleep.

Having said that, I will now leave you with something more intelligent than this drivel so that you don't rip your ears off from the rage of having wasted your time with this nonsense.

"If our religion be of our own getting or making, it will perish; and the sooner it goes, the better; but if our religion is a matter of God's giving, we know that He shall never take back what He gives, and that, if He has commenced to work in us by His grace, He will never leave it unfinished." - C.H. Spurgeon

"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." - Philippians 1:6

Walls

I have walls everywhere.

I've built them up over the years, trying to be strong, trying to conceal what I am from everyone. They are thick, and they are tall. They cover everything inside of me, protecting me. Imprisoning me. I begin to hate these walls in me, that I've built up.

I know I shouldn't have them, but I can't remove them. My hands put them there, and they refuse to tear them down.

Jesus' bloodied hands take away brick after brick; His outstretched arms carry the weight, but as He does it I am there, frantically replacing what He removes. He is gentle, so gentle, but I build on.

I like my walls.

I hate my walls.

I want to be like Jesus. I want to take a sledgehammer to the walls in me, to break them down so that God's grace can pour in, can fill me to bursting so I can extend the overflow of His grace to others.

There are cracks in the walls. God's light and love shine through these cracks, and I peek out from behind my walls and want what's over there. I want Him. I want to be like Him. I want to glorify Him. But I'm afraid.

So I build my walls.

But God is bigger than the walls I've built. His love and grace pours like a waterfall over the top, and hits me from the inside. God is not limited by my sin. He is not confused by my secrets.

He knows them.

He knows me.

And the walls I have built begin to shatter under the pressure of He-loves-me-anyway.

Romans 5:5 "...and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us..."

All Things Are From God

Verse-share-palooza!!

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1 Chronicles 29:14 “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.

Job 35:7 If you are righteous, what do you give to him? Or what does he receive from your hand?

Job 41:11 Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.

John 3:27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.

Romans 11:33-36 “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”

1 Corinthians 4:7 For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

1 Corinthians 8:6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

This Had Me As Close to Crying As I Usually Get

1 Peter 2:9

I love this verse. The first part of it is amazing all on its own. Look at it:

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession..."

There's so much here in this to think about. Being a chosen race - taken out from the world, the nation of heaven, God's people. A royal priesthood - the King's children, co-heirs with the Great High Priest, Christ. A holy nation - set apart by God for His purposes. A people for His own possession - we belong to God, and He cares for us. It really is amazing.

What really hit me yesterday as I read this verse was the second half.

"that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. "

This is the reason why we are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession - that we might proclaim His excellencies. We are saved to proclaim the glory of God. We are saved to further His works. We are saved so that we might take His light and shine it on the darkness of the world.

The verse doesn't go "that you may sit back, relax, let go and let God". It doesn't work like that. God saves us into responsibilities. We are to strive and put an effort into our lives. We are to pursue what is good and flee from what is evil. We are to put off the old self and put on the new. We are to train our minds and hearts to dwell upon holy things. We are to actively follow God. We're not to twiddle our thumbs and expect to be better Christians for it.

The verse also doesn't go "that you may do whatever you want, since you're forgiven". God will not be mocked by your continued sinfulness. If you, Christian, are dabbling in sin, take heed lest you fall. Your duty is to live in righteousness and holiness, forsaking sin and obeying the commands of God. If you love God, you will obey His commands. You will cast off unrighteousness and leave it behind. You will struggle and fight through temptations and trials.

Do you proclaim His excellencies?

Jesus the Glorious Shepherd

Note: this is based on a sermon that I heard about two years ago. I was reading through my old notes and found this one, and thought I'd share it. Aren't you pleased? :D

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Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

For you are with me;

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil;

My cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,

And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Henry Ward Beecher, speaking of Psalm 23, said,

“It has charmed more griefs to rest than all the philosophy of the world.”

We worry about everything going on in the world – we worry about money, politics, personal life, work, education, etc. We worry all the time. We are immersed in a world of worry.

Psalm 23 is an antidote to worry.

David had plenty of worry in his life. In war, in the valley, in his family turning against him – David knows what tears are like. He shed many. He knew sorrow and agony and despair.

He knew what it was to soar on eagle’s wings, and he knew what it was to fake insanity to escape death at the hands of the Philistines.

Yet David says this: Because Yahweh is my Shepherd, I SHALL NOT WANT.

God takes responsibility for us. The shepherd is responsible, ACCOUNTABLE, for every single sheep. We’re not in charge or in control – God owns our lives. Therefore He is responsible for our lives! Why should we worry? It’s NOT OUR WORRY!

God Himself meets our needs. Not our wants, our needs.

“The Lord is my shepherd.” That’s all David had to say, really.

The Shepherd is in charge. So why do we worry? Why do we fret? He is our glorious shepherd.

David is trusting in God alone. He’s not just saying it – he knows it personally.

Lord – the “Lord” mentioned in Psalm 23 is referring to Jesus. Look at Exodus 3: “I am that I am.” Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd.”

1) Jesus Provides for Me. (Psalm 23:1)

Just as a husband is primarily responsible for caring for the home, God is responsible for us! God shows us love and devotion – He is our provider. He will provide. He is duty bound to do so.

Sometimes we’re selfish and have a “gimme” attitude in our prayers. God will provide, but sometimes He holds back. It’s all in His time. He solves all our “problems”.

Jesus says “I lay down my life for the sheep.” He has come to save a people unto Himself. He provides everything we need.

Jesus provides.

2) Jesus Directs Me. (Psalm 23:2-3)

He feeds us and guides us. How? He guides us through the Word, and feeds us through the Word. The Word is given through the Spirit. He leads us in paths of righteousness, for His name’s sake.

Paths of righteousness are not easy paths. Think of Daniel – he refused to compromise. Paths of righteousness lead to lions. Think of Esther – she went into the throne room of Artaxerxes. Her life was on the line.

Think of Jesus! – He could have become the famous celebrity leader – but He refused to compromise. Paths of righteousness lead to the cross.

Paths of righteousness come at a cost, but our shepherd leads us. He continues to lead us. He will always lead us! Lean upon your Shepherd. He is in control.

3) Jesus Protects Me. (Psalm 23:4)

The shepherd is responsible to protect the sheep. Jesus is faithful. Our Shepherd is well-equipped.

David had to run for his life. Saul was out to destroy him. David went through many valleys in his life.

The valley of despair – Saul’s jealousy.

The valley of guilt and regret – for Uriah.

The valley of sorrow and grief – for the loss of his child.

Yet God has everything under control. David knew that. How do we react to the valleys in our own lives? With Christ, we CAN face them calmly and fearlessly.

4) Jesus Blesses Me. (Psalm 23:5-6)

“My cup overflows.” As His people, we have table fellowship with God, anointing of the head; we are set apart for blessing. The Shepherd ensures that the sheep are blessed under his care.

We are blessed under Jesus. God guides us to the springs of living water, and wipes the tears from our eyes. ~ If God has so blessed us, we should pass the blessing on. ~

Who are you following? KNOW THE SHEPHERD.

What paths do you take? FOLLOW HIM.

Know He loves you sacrificially and eternally.

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He Provides – Trust Him!

He Directs – Trust and Obey!

He Protects – Believe Him!

He Blesses – Praise Him!