Fear or Faith

Whenever Jesus was dealing with anyone facing a scary situation, He was quick to say, "Do not fear" almost before the person or persons had a chance to think.  (Examples would be when people told Jairus that his daughter had died, Mark 5:36; or when Jesus came walking on the sea toward his disciples in the boat, John 6:20.)   This happened often enough that it is safe to say that Jesus considered it critical not to fear, many times likely to stave off the very thing that was feared from actually happening.

What may not be obvious to most of us at first is that Jesus is teaching us, when faced with fear, to choose not to fear.  Chances to fear abound, that's for sure.  Our child gets sick, our teenager is late getting home, we begin to get a sore throat, we have pain somewhere in our bodies, we get caught driving in a terrible storm, etc., etc.  Many days I pray for my family and friends, "Lord, if today any of us faces fear or faith, let us each choose faith."  It is critical that we choose faith.

One evening when my youngest son (who had always been trustworthy) was still in high school, he was somewhat late driving home, and I was struggling with horrible fearful thoughts.  (This was before everyone had a cell phone!)  The Lord spoke to me clearly and said, "You are putting him in far more danger by sitting up and fearing for his safety than he would be if you'd trust him into My care and go to bed.  Do not fear!"  In some sort of crazy way, I had been feeling that by worrying about him (fearing) , I was actually caring about him and thus protecting him.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  The Lord said I was putting him in danger.  When I looked at it this way, I spoke out boldly, "I refuse to fear!" and made myself go to bed, knowing he was safe.  (He was.)

I have read many stories of people who were miraculously delivered from sickness, bills, accidents (both before, during, and after)--anything--by refusing to fear.  I...REFUSE...TO...FEAR!   

Why Fasting Works

I have studied fasting and wondered so many times if it is a key to answered prayer, and if so, why?  This much I know, that nothing we do, including fasting, forces God to do anything.  I have also considered that fasting may be an act that makes the person fasting more "spiritually sensitive", so that s/he can receive more easily from God.

The latter may be somewhat true, but after much thinking and praying, I think it is this:  Fasting is usually not easily done by any of us.  Hunger is a powerful, natural motivator, and so many of us have found that, good intentions aside, we succumb to the temptation to eat, even if we really don't want to.

However, when one actually does fast, it is because the matter at hand is critically important to us.  It is more important than satisfying and pleasing our own selves.  So we deny ourselves "pleasure" for a greater cause--which, I think it boils down to, is love.  Fasting works because it is an act of love.  "There is no greater love than this, but that you lay your life down for another."  (John 15:13)  A few verses later, Jesus says "...I appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give it to you.  This I command you, to love one another."  (John 15:16-17)  I rest my case!

Moving Mountains

"And Jesus answered them, "Truly I say to you, if you have faith and never doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it will be done.  And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith."  Matthew 21:21

We were reading Matthew 21 in our homemeeting not long ago, and I shared that this verse always bothers me.  My first reaction is always, "Well, then I'll never move mountains, because I know I would always have doubt for something like that."  We got to discussing it in the light of grace.  I was gently reminded that, even though these were words of Jesus, He had not yet died, He had not yet freed His people from the burden of obedience as the key to blessing.  Jesus was talking to Jews who were only familiar with the do's and don'ts of the old covenant.  Quite likely, we discussed, He knew his disciples would probably whisper the same objections amongst themselves as I did, every time I read it:  "Well, if it takes me not doubting to do what He's doing, I know I'll never be able to do it!"  Which, most likely, is exactly the response Jesus wanted them to have.  Patiently, over and over again, He is teaching them the futility of the law and obedience to it.  He is letting them realize how worthless their own self-efforts at righteousness are.

It is the first time I have understood this verse, ever!  It is the first time I did not whip myself for not being able.  Of course I'm not able.  But (obviously) He is!  My righteousness is not because of anything I have done or deserved.  It is a free gift, imparted to me, and as I accept it, I understand that "In Him I live and move and have my being!"  (Acts 17:28)   If I am ever to do a miracle, it must be by relying on His strength, His ability, His right standing with God.  It's not about me!  That's how I know, if I ever need it to be, any mountain in my life will be moved!

Scared of Being Sick

I'm ashamed to say that I have done this more than once:  having some weird symptom in my body, though I try not to do it, it's easy to begin to wonder if what I have is something major and/or incurable.  If I let my thoughts and my mind go, I can really begin to fear that I could be in for a battle for my very life!  Sadly, I've pictured what it would be like to slowly succumb...how I'd tell my children and my friends...how I'd come to grips with leaving this earth before I was ready.

I'm certainly not making light of anyone who has dealt with such things and found out that he or she is, indeed, dying.  But, thank God, each time this has happened to me, research on the internet or self-testing of some sort has convinced me that my fears were unfounded.

I know not everyone believes God heals today.  But whenever I have been in such a fear-gripped situation, turning to the Word has been my hope and my comfort.  I particularly love Isaiah's prophetic vision of Jesus in Isaiah 53:4:  "Surely He has borne our sicknesses and carried our pains!"  We discussed "surely" in our home group and found that it means "without question".  I love that!  Without question He has borne my sicknesses!"  Yes!  So I won't question if He has! I also love Psalm 103:2-5:  "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:  Who forgives all my iniquity, Who heals all my diseases, Who redeems my life from the Pit, Who crowns me with steadfast love and mercy, Who satisfies me with good as long as I live, so my youth is renewed like the (strong and majestic) eagle's!"

Oh, God is good, yes He is!  "When I am afraid, I put my trust in Thee."  (Psalm 56:3)  No matter what, even if there comes a day when I really do have to face a real threat to my life, His Word gives me hope and comfort.  I love You, Lord, so much!

To Obey is Better Than Sacrifice

I Samuel 15:22-23 says, "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord?  Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.  For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.  Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you (from being king)."

Yes, obedience is far better than sacrifice.  If I never sin to begin with, I don't need a sacrifice for my sins.  If my heart is not stubborn, and I follow the word of the Lord perfectly, then I can be confident He doesn't reject me.

The thing is, "None is righteous, no, not one," for "...all men...are under the power of sin."  (Romans 3:9)  I sure know this!  Even Paul, probably the most perfect man besides Christ, said, "I can will what is right, but I cannot do it."  (Romans 7:18)  Even if I want to obey, I can never do it to God's satisfaction.

That's why, yes, to obey is better than sacrifice.  But GRACE is better than obedience!  How can it possibly be that this grace is a free gift?  (See Romans 5)  I don't know, I don't know!  But I am soooooooooooooo happy that "where sin increased, GRACE abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, GRACE might also reign through (free!) righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  

Obedience is better than sacrifice, but grace is better than anything!  "Those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.  (Romans 5:17)  I love you, Jesus!