Handling the Fearful Times

But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel:

 “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.  For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.  ----- Isaiah 43:1 - 3a

When my father was dying, my mother received this passage in a card from a friend. It was familiar to her, but at the same time it was like she was hearing it for the first time.

That's kind if how it is when we're in the middle of frightening circumstances we've never faced before. If the situation is something we've been through before, we can draw on memories of how we handled it, how we got through. Even if we didn't do well with the situation, we can draw on the memories and determine that this time will be different.

When we have no previous experience with a situation, however, heading into it can be like falling into deep waters or walking into a burning forest. Dangerous...and we fear for our very lives. How will we make it out, we wonder. How will we survive? How will we go on after the flood? after the fire?

And even though the circumstance is new, even though we don't have memory of a previous experience, this is the time to remember who we are: children of God. We belong to God. We are His. He is our Lord and Savior. In the frightening new experiences of life we find the exact right time to remember His words: He is with us. We will not be overwhelmed.

So my question this morning is, what will help me remember that He is my God, my Lord and Savior?

Only my ongoing, active search for Him will keep God in my thoughts at all times. Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:33). When I am looking for Him in my surroundings, acknowledging him, when I am purposeful in prayer and study, when I commit to fellowship...these are the times when I actively seek God and His kingdom. And I will more easily remember that He is with me, that he has called me by name, that it belong to Him. I will remember that he saved me not to lose me in fire or flood. He saved me for a purpose that He will accomplish in His time.

The Angry God

I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me. O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.  O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.  Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name.  For his anger is but for a moment,

and his favor is for a lifetime.  Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

----- Psalm 30:1 - 5

I like that this psalm is honest in saying that God becomes angry. It clearly states a measure of the duration of His anger: it is but for a moment. We need to recognize that our great God will become angry...even angry with us. But God's anger is directed at sin. When God is angry with us, it is because we have chosen to live with sin...and not with Him

In our "God is love" culture, there may be a confusion between the anger of our earthly fathers and the righteous, saving anger of our Heavenly Father. Unlike the fathers who gave us birth, God the Father is not easily frustrated when His children disobey. Unlike our earthly fathers, He is incapable of feeling like a failure when His children do not do as their told. The fathers of our birth are subject to this kind of anger.  God the Father has more patience, more endurance, more willingness to give the wayward children another chance. We must accept that though He loves His children, there are times when God will become angry with them (us).

This psalm, however, was sung to celebrate God's faithful saving work. It reminds us that it is not God's anger, but His work to save us that is eternal. His anger does not last forever, but His saving work does.  He is the God of second and third and fourth and perhaps infinite chances. What we must realize is that even in the darkest times, in the pit and the all-night wrestling sessions...God is working to save us.

O Father, I know there have been times when I have caused you to be angry.  I know you have been angry with the sinful choices I have made.  Yet I am confounded that in those times, you did not abandon me.  Though I may have been as far from you as I could possibly be, you did not give up on me.  You still strived to save me.  Father, help me to see that your saving work is greater than your anger.  May I praise you always for that.

Loved Beings Being Selfless Beings

But that is not the way you learned Christ!—assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. 

----- Ephesians 4:20 - 24

In order put on a new self that is made after the image of God, a new self that responds to situations in righteousness and holiness, I first have to know, to understand, what righteousness and holiness are.  I cannot decide what is right and holy on my own. I must know them as defined by the One who IS right and holy. I must know what Christ Jesus taught.

Jesus said the greatest command is to love God. That means that in all I do, I seek to obey Him. My love for God is expressed in my words, in song, in my witness...but God understands my love best when I trust His guidance in obedience. When God asks me to do something--especially something outside my comfort zone or something in opposition to my own wants and desires--when I follow though on what He asks of me, I demonstrate my love for God.

Jesus said the second greatest command is like the first: to love my neighbor as myself. I am to love those around me. Today, with communication technology and transportation opening the world, that means "those around me" is an ever-widening circle to be loved. 

And how do I love my neighbor? Well, the culture says if I give them everything they want, then I love them. But that's not love. That's indulgence. Though God lavishes His love upon us, He does not give us everything we want. In love, God asks us to give up what we want, what we desire--sometimes because what we want is not right for us, sometimes because our desires are deceitful and lead us into pain and misery.  Sometimes God, who loves us so much, does not give us what we want because there is something better ahead that we cannot see. 

So I go back to the question: how do I love my neighbor? I love him/her by putting his/her needs above my own. I guess that means first understanding my own needs. I have a need for "honor" and recognition. I put that down to recognize the efforts of someone else. I see that they receive honor for what they do. 

I have a need for comfort, to be warm and safe and well-fed. These are important needs  that when met enable me to help others.  But do I love myself so much that my personal needs come first before meeting the needs of others?  Maybe in order to love my neighbor, I need to lower the thermostat so that money is saved to help another person pay their heating bill. Maybe it means the groceries I add to my cart should be filling someone else's cupboard. 

The thing is, called to relationship with Christ is called to a relationship beyond self. The world is seeking after self...and teaching that that's what a person has to do. But Christ came to set the world on its ear. As His followers, we are to set self aside and put on a new image--an image that seeks after the things that God has determined are right and holy: loving Him in obedience and loving our neighbors as we love ourselves.

Oh, God, it is all about self...about me putting myself aside...about putting others in that place formerly occupied by self.  That is the "put[ting] on of the new self"--a self created after the One who put my needs above His own.  Lord, help me see this new self that seeks after the needs of others as a fresh, well-fitting and flattering garment...as a garment I was meant to wear everyday.

Loved Beings Being Loving Beings

We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

----- 1 John 4:19 - 21

We are such feeble creatures. We cannot see God; therefore we don't believe.  Jesus came to reveal God to us. He put on the garments of flesh and walked about in a human body. We could see Him, hear Him, touch Him, smell Him. He therefore existed...and then He was gone.  But after leaving, He gifted those who believe with His Spirit.  The Spirit of God lives within each one of us to guide us and teach us and keep us in relationship with God. The Holy Spirit is with us so that Jesus shines from us, so that those who don't believe can see Jesus...and believe.  We can reveal God to non-believers by loving them, because God IS love. When someone is shown love, they are shown God.

But this passage takes it a bit further and reminds me that it's all or nothing when we love God. It's impossible to love God and hate a brother...or a neighbor...or our president...or the dissenting pastor...or even a bitter enemy. If we say we love God, we are the vehicles He will use to love others. We cannot love God if we put up a block to the love that He is desperate to extend to those who cannot see Him.

Love for God is proven in our obedience. And the single command that demands obedience is loving one another. And so my question this morning is, against whom do I harbor hateful feelings that keep me from loving God? Ouch!

There are so many people with whom I disagree...do I hate them? I sense very negative feelings when I think of them...do those feelings come close to hate? If I'm honest with myself I have to admit that yes, they do. So when I say I love God, but negativity raises so easily...I need help to love those with whom I disagree despite their opinions.

There are people who criticize me, who come against me or are uncommitted to my leadership. This brings on the negative feelings. I want to fight back with criticism and disagreement of my own. So when I say I love God, but strive to be contentious just to spite, to get back...I need help to love despite my annoyances.

There are people who have hurt me, who have never apologized, who blame me for the pain. Again negative feelings arise when I think of them. Do these negative feelings lead to hate? In some cases the people are family...I cannot say I hate them. But I do dislike them.  So when I say I love God and even dislike people, am I a liar? The Spirit is nudging me to say, yes I am. I need help to love despite the pain of the past and present.

I do love you, God. Yet I see how I contradict myself when I say I love, and harbor bitterness and anger against others. I am so weak in this area, Father, but my love for you is strong. I believe then that you will help me love others. I believe you have given me your Spirit so that I can overcome these feelings and be your representative in this world. I can be one who reveals you because I love. Help me, Father, to love despite disagreement, despite contrariness, despite wounds and pain.

The Visible God

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. ----- Colossians 1:15 - 20

Oh, this is powerful Scripture. How easy it is to read these verses and move past them because they are introductory.  How easy to plow through, looking for the "meat" of the letter. This IS the meat! Before creation, Jesus is. Before God crafted a single cell of mankind, Jesus is. And Jesus with God in creation.

Before God's perfect human creation could rebel and fall away, God had a plan to bring us back to Him. Can I even take that in? This is how awesome our Creator is. How can there be a person in this world who could not believe that He exists?

Is it because that person has not seen Jesus?

The first verse of this passage clearly tells us that Jesus is God, Spirit made visible to mankind. We don't know God because He is invisible, we can't see Him.  In our simple-mindedness, we only know what we can see.  And God, our compassionate Creator, knows this. So He sent Jesus. All that God is--mercy, compassion, love, kindness, gentleness, peace, goodness...all that God is...it is all packaged into the man Jesus...all for the purpose of showing God to the people...so that they will believe.

He is first in all creation, and Jesus is the firstborn of the dead.  He died the human death, but God restored His life and called Him back to His place above creation. Jesus died, but He lives. And He remains on earth...invisibly.

So who can see Him today?  Is it any wonder people don't believe...frail people who must see to believe?

Jesus has given us--those who do believe--He has given us His Spirit...so that we can be filled with the fullness of God. So that all that God is can dwell within us. So that we can be Jesus--God--made visible.  So that the world can know Jesus.

Oh, Jesus, I pray that on this day especially that you would make yourself visible through me. Help me get out of your way; if there is one who needs to see you today, Jesus, please help me put myself down so that you can shine through. Oh, that the invisible God would be seen in the visible Jesus...Jesus the light shining through me.

A True "Magic" Kingdom

3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.

    He shall not judge by what his eyes see,

or decide disputes by what his ears hear,

4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,

     and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;

and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,

and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,

and faithfulness the belt of his loins.

----- Isaiah 11:3 - 5

The Kingdom of God is here. Jesus introduced it over 2000 years ago. It will fully come, it will be fully established, when He returns. But I have to accept that the Kingdom IS here and now. As a disciple of Christ, I am a citizen of the Kingdom. And I am sensing more and more: that's not a ticket for entry into a never-ending Disney-created place of fun and magic. I received admission the moment I accepted Christ. That "ticket" was stamped for immediate entry; at that moment I walked through the turnstile.

The Kingdom of God is here and now. That means that the King reigns today.  That means that the godly King is judging in righteousness and faithfulness...not when He returns, but now. And judging in righteousness is all about making things right.

• Poverty is not right; no one deserves to live in poverty. People may be impoverished due to the circumstances of their lives. Some may judge that they get what they deserve...they haven't taken advantage of the opportunities given to them. But the godly King says the real injustice is that sin entered the world and put people in impoverished circumstances. He will make right the injustice of poverty.
• Oppression is not right; no one deserves to live only to be used by another. People may be oppressed because they cannot fight back. They have no voice, no power, no one standing alongside them. Some may judge that they've gotten what they deserve...they were ignorant or weak, so of course they were taken advantage of. But the godly King says the real injustice is that sin entered the world and put people in circumstances that allowed others to take advantage and use them. This King will make right the injustice of oppression
• Racism is not right; no human deserves to be cast aside, discarded, or discounted because of race. People may be looked down on because of the color of their skin, the shape of their eyes, or the culture in which they were raised. Some may judge that they were born to a lower status. But the godly King says that the real injustice is that sin entered the world and people feel the need to place themselves above others. The King will make right the injustice of racism.
• Prostitution, addictions, abuse, murder, cheating, stealing, adultery, abortion, war, materialism...these things are not right. And homosexuality. These things were never a part of God's creation. They entered our world through sin. They settled and eroded the care and nurture God entrusted to us. It may be judged that some of these cause no harm--they are "victimless," choices that adults of reason should be allowed to make. It may be judged that some of these are justifiable, not crimes at all. It may be judged that some are to be handled by the state, that man's governing ability can decide what is just and unjust.  But only the godly King can judge...and He has been anointed to judge in righteousness...to make things right.  Sin can be forgiven.  And in the King's order of righteousness, it is forgiven...and then forgotten. Only the godly King can rule with that kind of justice. Only a godly King can lead His people to forgive as He has forgiven them.  

This is the true "Magic" Kingdom. It is the Kingdom of God, and it is here and now. The King leads in righteousness and faithfulness...today. He leads His people...me. So I have to ask, am I waiting around for Jesus to return so that He will make things right? Or am I living as a citizen of the Kingdom here and now...today...seeking to work with Him today to make right the injustices around me? Am I simply a spectator to this business of making right? Am I watching from the sidelines, looking to Him to do it all? Or am I allowing Him--the King who leads in righteousness and faithfulness--to lead me to join Him as a player.

Lord Jesus, make me a player--a first-string player. Help me judge not with eyes nor ears, but judge through your righteousness. Lead me, my King, to the work of your kingdom. Amen.

The Thing I Fear

Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.”  The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the a thick darkness where God was.  ----- Exodus 20:18 - 21 

Fear. In many circles today, it is a word to issue when one disagrees with another. Rather than accepting the point of disagreement, response becomes an accusation: Fear! It seems that disagreement does not mean a difference of opinions; it means fear--specifically a fear of change.

Of course, there is some truth to the charge...change is frightening. It means a disruption to the usual.  Change means adapting to the unusual.  And it is the unusual, the out-of-the-norm that we fear.

Take, for an example, a visit from an angel. That's out of the ordinary.  And throughout Scripture, such visits illicit fear. Mary and Zachariah each experienced fear in the presence of Gabriel.  This is because angel appearances are unconventional, out-of-the-ordinary....unusual.

The verses from Exodus 20 paint a fearful picture: thunder, lightening, smoking mountain, and a trumpet sound.  Thunder and lightening are common enough (well, common enough to our experiences; were they unusual to people who had lived in Egypt?), but  to see a mountain on fire and hear the blare of a trumpet...all these things happening at once...it must have been a terrifying scene.

For the Hebrew slaves, having experienced the miracles of the ten plagues, the possibility that this Mighty God would speak to them was unusual...frightening. It could only mean their certain death.  I smile...how silly...the God who desires relationship with his people would not strike them dead in conversation. Though this fear was a healthy sign--such reverence would keep the people from sinning--conversation with God was not to be feared.

Then why do I fear it?  Why is prayer so difficult for me? Why when I sit down w/devotions or sermon prep, why when I feel the nudge to quiet myself and begin w/prayer...why is it so difficult to actually do it? It's not the fear of death the Hebrews had. My fear does not show that degree of reverence; in fact, I think it shows a more casual attitude toward Almighty God. My fear is a self-centered fear: a fear of failure...I won't do it right...I won't please God w/my prayers...therefore, I won't get what I want. I lack obedience because I know God on the New Covenant level. I know the forgiveness, the grace. Yet, when I take advantage of that grace and decide that God will forgive me if I willfully choose disobedience over His nudge to pray...then I lack the reverence, the fear, that will keep me from sinning. I will disregard (grieve) the Holy Spirit who keeps those nudges coming...to keep me from sinning.

Oh, Lord, please do not put out the light of your Holy Spirit. I thank you for every call He gives, whenever I feel like going off on my own:  nudges to pick up the phone and make a call, nudges to stick w/my writing and not give in to distractions, and especially nudges to sit quietly and enjoy your presence, dear God. Thank you for shining light on my darkness, on the self-centeredness, that fills me with foolish fears.  All praise and glory, all reverence belongs to you Father God Almighty. Amens