Have you ever noticed that many Christians are motivated by fear? Some say there's a 10,000 foot financial tidal wave coming [some believe it's already here]. Others say there will be a major shortage of food [some already know every 3 seconds a child dies of preventable hunger]. A few say there will be martial law and you could be killed if you get near a mob [my new friends from Kenya told me how they were frantically emailing their families back home trying to discover if they were dead or alive just a few months ago].But one email I received recently said, "Every leader in the world is frightened to death." So if the world's leaders are scared, shouldn't we be? I think not. Jesus told His followers, "Let NOT your heart be troubled." Why? Because "God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline" [2 Timothy 1:7].
Who knew the discipline Christians would need the most to survive a great depression would have nothing to do with canning corn or moving stocks but fixing our eyes on Jesus?!! He promises to give us a spirit of power and love not because of anything we have done, but because of His grace [2 Timothy 1:9]. Here, to help you live that grace by faith and not fear, are some reassuring Christian cartoons a friend sent me. Isn't Jesus attractive enough? Why can't He be what motivates us?
Thank you Mike for reminding us of God's assuring message from 2nd Timothy. Very relevant indeed!
ReplyDeleteTuesday night, I met a homeless man in Chicago, outside the upscale Room and Board, ironically. He sat on the sidewalk with his blanket, his Bible, and a sign saying, "God is good!" He engaged as many folks as he could on that message, saying he knows God will take care of his needs. When God was uplifted, people responded positively. What an AWESOME witness for God, and an incredible lesson for us.
Thanks Mike for your assurances and reminders that all these things that we like to worry about are in God's hands. I didn't know this until just recently but the command given most by God when talking to his people was, "Fear not"...... So obviously he knows we will be fearful, and that's something we have and probably always will struggle with, but he still tells us to fear not! So, I guess it's up to me whom to believe in, in the days, weeks and years to come. I'm with you I choose to believe that God is who he says he is and that God can do what he says he can do. End of story!
ReplyDeleteAnother quote I've heard recently and really liked is, "If we trust God to be the Author of our story, can't we also trust him with the ending too.....?"
Kendra
Mike, Thanks for your blog. It's been a huge blessing to me today! :)
ReplyDeleteGrace
Right On.
ReplyDeleteGod is on HIS THRONE. He IS. All is well with Him. All will go well with us, not because we are good, but because HE IS!
He will bring out His will. And we have the total assurance that despite whatever, despite our on financial, emotional, social failings, he is able...
More than able...
Right on Pastor Mike. NO FEAR but the deep joyful fear that comes from being awed by His awesome peace and grace.
What a great time to give up on our fears as well as our trinketts and love the LOVE, who continues to still the fears.
If He is able to raise up full-fledged children to Abraham from Stones, he can take all our fears and make us viciously hopeful.
My hope is build on nothing less than....
AMEN and AMEN