Love and Fear:

Something to Think About for December 17, 2014:

Literature, movies, and certainly folklore are full of tales of people dealing with fear.  Some successfully and others, not so much. I've not served in the military, or been an explorer.  I've never had to land a plane with a dead engine, in the dark.  My life has been blessedly free of those terrorizing scenes that make one sit on the edge of his seat in a movie theater.  But, I have been afraid.  I have had to, and have to, fight fear.  I suspect you do as well. Getting ready for a Bible study this morning I read this brief account about a great warrior, Benaiah: " He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit on a snowy day." (2 Samuel 23:20).   If ever there were a situation that screamed, "Leave it alone!" this was it.  If it is wise to let sleeping dogs lie, how much more to allow pitted lions to stay in the hole--especially when there is snow on the ground.  Even more-so when you consider that Benaiah wasn't lion hunting with a high-powered rifle.  I figure his feat was accomplished hand to claw. In our little study we guys asked the question, "Why?"  We admitted that we don't have the data for a definitive answer, but we were given a hint when we looked at the rest of Benaiah's record.  Clearly he was a man of faithfulness who highly regarded duty.  He was David's body guard, and was key in making sure that David's chosen successor, Solomon ascended to the throne.  I have to figure there was a reason Benaiah went down into that pit on a snowy day to face a lion.  Maybe they had been hunting down a rogue beast.  It was cornered in a pit and someone had to finish the job at hand.  Maybe it was a random thing, but a lion in a pit is liable to get out, and when it does . . . Better take care of business while one can.  Bottom line: We don't why the lion was in the pit or why Benaiah had to join him there.  Though Benaiah was an incredible warrior--one of David's Mighty Men, he had to fight another foe, before he faced the lion, fear. I've not faced a lion, but I have stared into the eyes of fear.  Generally the fear I have faced didn't growl and threaten, it lurked, barely seen, but very real.  John says "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear" (1 John 4:18).  Jay Adams, a counselor and teacher of counselors, encourages asking this question, "What loving thing is my fear keeping me from doing?"  Love is worth going down into the pit to face that fear, even on a snowy day. It's Something To Think About. (My thoughts were encouraged by Chapter 6 in the book The Hard Corps, by Dai Hankey.)

Something To Think About "He listened!", 9/2

In order for this to make sense, you have to think on one side of a couple of Theological truths.  Jesus is God incarnate, the God-man.  Think on the human side of that.  The Bible is a book given by God in such a way that both as to words and to the overall content it can be accurately called the "Word of God."  Yet, God chose to use people in the writing of those books that make up the canon of Scripture.  The people, with their unique backgrounds and personalities are so involved in the process that it is accurate to say, "David says," or, "Peter wrote." If that gives you a headache, go get an aspirin and rejoin me in a minute. OK, I'm not asking you to deny Jesus Deity, or think of the Scripture as less than God-inspired, I just want you to allow the human side of things to inform this conversation. For three years, that we know of, Jesus was a rabbi, a teacher and preacher.  While He spoke on occasions to large crowds, Jesus' prime audience were the twelve men who were His apostles--eleven of whom remained faithful and changed the world.  I'm on really shaky ground, here, because I'm going to compare myself to Jesus.  I, too, am a preacher/teacher.  Nothing brings me greater joy, as a communicator, than to receive feedback that what I have attempted to teach has actually been learned.  When I hear from a person, or, even more, when I see in a person's life, that they got it--WONDERFUL! We've been working through the book of 1 Peter.  Peter was one of those twelve whom the Lord had chosen to be with Him so He could pour his life and teaching into their hearts.  I have to think it caused the Lord great joy to hear Peter say, "   “Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled,” (1 Peter 3:13–14).   You see, Jesus had preached a message about that concept to the Twelve, just before He sent them out on a ministry tour.  You can find it inMatthew 10.  Though Jesus tells Peter and his comrades that they will be like sheep in the midst of wolves, and that they will face all kinds of opposition and persecution, He tells them to not be afraid.      “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28, NASB95)   When Peter challenged the persecuted believers with the echo of his teacher's question, I imagine a smile must have come across the Lord's face.  "He got it!  That loud-mouthed fisherman was actually listening." Let's make the Lord smile today. Let's encourage those who faithfully teach God's word (here). Listen, do, teach others.   It's Something to Think About.   Here is an interesting picture of what is wrong with the world and how God's message makes it right.

Afraid of whom?

I was listening this morning to a story about North Korea's arrest and trial of Kenneth Bae, a missionary.  Bae is accused of attempting to overthrow the North Korean government.  Why not accuse me of threatening to carry away the Brooklyn Bridge in the trunk of my Honda, or trying to fill in the Grand Canyon with my shovel and wheelbarrow?  The officials of North Korea show their own weakness by fearing such an insignificant "threat."  

It is a common syndrome among petty tyrants and restrictive regimes.  Every time they arrest a preacher, squash a protest, or censor an author they show how weak they are.  The lion can afford to ignore the mouse.  My observation is not limited to happenings "across the pond."  When so called academics choose to shout down those who espouse ideas contrary to the approved line, they might as well rent a billboard that proclaims, "My ideas are weak.  I can only win a debate by keeping the opposition out."

As is often the case, though, I find that as I thinkon this, I condemn myself.  I am a child of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, I have His word which is a fire, a hammer, and a sword.  I am indwelt by God's Spirit.  Yet, YET, too often I act as if Satan--a poor misguided, defeated spirit who, in spite of his great intellect, somehow thinks that he can win--is a force who can defeat me.  I know that "He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world," yet I too often act like it ain't so.  (1 John 4:4)  The fact is My knees sometimes buckle and my resolve fails in the face of entities far less than threatening than the Spirit formerly known as Lucifer.

Lord, may I not insult you, by fearing those who can do me no harm.

Amen.

 

 It's STTA