Fear Not

 

The angels told the shepherds, “Fear not.”  Even though that is probably the most memorable fear not; there are many more.  In Genesis Abram, Hagar, Issac, Rachel, Joseph’s brothers, and Jacob were told to fear not. Abram, childless, “Fear not.”  Hagar, her child thirsty, “Fear not.”  Isaac exiled, “Fear not.”  Rachel, in labor before her death, “Fear not.”   Joseph’s brothers, hungry, “Fear not.”  Joseph’s brothers, facing punishment, “Fear not.”  In Exodus the children of Israel were told to fear not when the enemy was approaching. The Lord would fight for them. They were told to fear not when the thunder roared the lightning flashed and the mountain smoked as God spoke.  In the New Testament Jesus said fear not many times.  Simon Peter who felt unworthy, “Fear not.” Jarious who thought he had lost his daughter, “Fear not.” The multitude who felt they were of no value, “Fear not.” The final fear not is found in Revelation: He laid his right hand upon me saying, Fear not, I am the first and the last.  Whatever situation you find yourself in today, remember, fear not. God’s Word is true to all who are childless, thirsty, exiled, hungry, in storms, near death, facing punishment, facing enemies, fearful of losing a child, feeling unworthy and valueless, He is the first and the last. Fear not.

 

The Few, the Humble, the Healed

 

A young boy watched as teams were chosen for a basketball game at school.  He sat humbly on the sidelines as everyone around him was picked. He knew how well he could play the game and   knew if they would just give him a chance he could do great things. Because he was a little different and they didn’t believe he could play, they never picked him, Amazingly, he went on to be an NBA star. There must have been a few who believed in him and encouraged him to go on to achieve greatness.   In Mark Chapter 6 Jesus was in his hometown. He was rejected.  No one wanted Him around. He seemed a little different to many and they didn’t believe.  He knew what He could do for them.  He had already raised the dead, calmed a raging storm, and made demons depart, but the majority rejected Him. Verse 5 tells that He could do no mighty works there except lay hands on a few sick folks and heal them.  He marveled at unbelief.  Jesus went on (Verse 41) to feed 5000 in a desert place.  Jesus said that no mighty works were done in his hometown.  But just think of those few sick folk who were healed. I believe those humble few who were healed believed it was a mighty work Jesus did in them. When we are rejected and think we aren’t doing that much  we must continue on to achieve greatness.  Many may not believe, but there will be a few who do.   While journeying to the thousands we can’t forget the few.

 

 

Incentive

 

Last week, on a hot August day, a child came home from school, tired and weary, but excited.  He learned if homework is turned in everyday, in cold December, he will go on a field trip to the mall.  His teenage uncle laughed and told him he could go to the mall this weekend and the next, no work required. That same incentive breaker had earlier suggested I write something about incentive, a word that didn’t really excite me that much. C.D. Lewis once said, , “I do not sit down to write something already clear in my mind. If it were clear in my mind, I should have no incentive to write about it.” Incentive is defined as something, such as the fear of punishment or the expectation of rewared that induces action or motivaes effort.  Motivated, I took action and began to write.  Another author said, “There is no medicine like hope, no incentive as great as expectation of something tomorrow.” As adults we must be careful not to be incentive breakers, laughing at others hopes and dreams of what will be in their tomorrow. Also, we must not become tired and weary losing hope and expectation of things that will be in our tomorrow.  Incentive for tomorrow from God’s Word:  Joshua 3:5 And Joshua said to the people, "Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you."

 

Blindness, Baldness, Boldness

 

Unlike other ants, army ants do not have compound eyes, but instead have single eyes (but they are still blind). Army ants use their antennae to sense smell and touch. This is how they know which colony and nest they belong to. The bald eagle is not bald, but is so called because it has a head of pure white feathers. Known as the "king of birds," the bald eagle looks majestic and proud, and seems to typify a spirit of independence. Based on a study of 164 breeds of dogs conducted at Stockholm University, the following breeds were found to be the boldest: Labrador Retriever, Boxers and Rottweiler. Boldest dogs combine measures of fearlessness, curiosity, sociability, and interest in chasing prey.  Christians are called out to be unlike others.  When God renames us our old names should no longer fit who we become in Christ. We are called to march boldly in the army of God; fearlessly chasing other souls we may win to join His army.   As a member of this army I ask myself even though I have eyes, do I always see well enough to know what colony I belong to?  Do I allow others to call me by a name that should no longer fit me? Do I display purity as I display the Spirit of God that lives within me?  A majority of Christians, spiritually blind, displaying baldness (no covering), and lacking boldness, have no idea the power that lives within them when they become children of the King.