"All the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, 'Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become plunder; would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?' So they said to one another, 'Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt.'” Numbers 14:2-4
It was on the receipt of a partially negative report about the land that God promised His chosen people that they rebelled. Just about 18-24 months had passed since they were delivered from 430 years of slavery, brought miraculously through the Red Sea, fed with bread from heaven and literally introduced to the God of their fathers. Yet because of the faithlessness of the representatives chosen to survey the land and their own fear and lack of trust, they expressed a desire to return to their slave masters and the condition under which they suffered for generations. They were even willing to stone the men through whom God effected their freedom, to go backward.
As we read and study these events some 3500 years later, we shake our heads and wonder why they could not see how immensely blessed they were. We are nearly exasperated at the shortness of their sight and the shallowness of their faith. We are amazed that they would willingly go back into certain death and be eternally lost over what we would consider a complete lack of perspective at minimum and relatively minor inconveniences at most. What could possibly have been wrong with those people? After all, they had seen the immense power of God first hand!
It is suggested beloved, that we not be quick to judge. How often do we long to visit the condition from which God brought us? None of us actually desire to re-enter the unsaved state that is Egypt, but there are times we do long for its comforts, familiarities and pleasures. Let's face it, if sin did not look good, feel good and taste good, few if any would be consumed by or interested in it. If Christianity was a simple walk in the park, everyone would be one. As the children of God, we must adopt the mindset of their Moses: "He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible" Heb 11:25-27 (NIV).
In the face of doubt, fear and desire, Egypt can look attractive, but you are encouraged to never look back. God will not open the sea again for you to return. Instead, keep your eyes and your hope on the Promised Land. The way has already been made. We just need to be faithful enough to accept the good report and to cross over at the appointed time.
Increasing in faith,
Lee
Showing posts with label fear. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fear. Show all posts
Friday, March 13, 2020
Friday, January 10, 2020
Fighting Fear, Worry and Anxiety
“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." John 14:1-3
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of having lunch with an old friend, protégé and now, preacher. We laughed and talked about many things but when the conversation turned to travel, he began to speak of his fear of extended plane trips and traveling over large bodies of water. We also talked about health and I noticed how he began to speculate about the worst case scenario of an impending visit to his physician. Of course he had 2 Tim 1:7 firmly placed in his mind but his anxiety was nonetheless present and visible.
Most assuredly, we can all identify with experiencing fear, worry and anxiety. It is an unfortunate byproduct of being wrapped in flesh. Our minds are designed to look for and recognize patterns, particularly those that impact our safety, security and well being. Our past experiences are recorded in memory and when we recognize the pattern of a previous event, we bring forward the emotions associated with the it, whether good or bad, but particularly those we deem to be a threat. For this reason, we need coping mechanisms.
Beloved, even Jesus experienced emotions like these. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus famously wept, and due to his trepidation about the trial and crucifixion he would soon endure, he, "being in agony prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground," Luke 22:44. Even his friends failed him in this, the time of his greatest need and fear. Notice; however, that he gathered himself, evidently embracing who he was, whose he was and what his mission was. He then proceeded and fulfilled his ministry and all prophecy. Ultimately, he knew that once he endured all he was facing, he would go home to the Father and be glorified, John 17:1-5.
One of my favorite passages in all of the Bible is John 14:1-3. Therein lies a promise that I believe, that is inspiration for all I do and is an amazing deterrent to the fear, worry and anxiety I sometimes face. My coping mechanism is to "bottom line" things. What this means is, that in view of that Scripture, I know that I am going to one day go home and experience the glory of the Father, see my savior at His right hand and take my place in a dwelling place reserved just for me, regardless of anything that may happen to me or affect my life. I cannot tell you how much peace this gives me or how much it allows me to navigate through both the best and worst of times in an even and grounded manner. In times of fear and worry, consider 1 John 4:16-18. In times of fear and worry, consider Jesus.
Increasing in faith,
Lee
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of having lunch with an old friend, protégé and now, preacher. We laughed and talked about many things but when the conversation turned to travel, he began to speak of his fear of extended plane trips and traveling over large bodies of water. We also talked about health and I noticed how he began to speculate about the worst case scenario of an impending visit to his physician. Of course he had 2 Tim 1:7 firmly placed in his mind but his anxiety was nonetheless present and visible.
Most assuredly, we can all identify with experiencing fear, worry and anxiety. It is an unfortunate byproduct of being wrapped in flesh. Our minds are designed to look for and recognize patterns, particularly those that impact our safety, security and well being. Our past experiences are recorded in memory and when we recognize the pattern of a previous event, we bring forward the emotions associated with the it, whether good or bad, but particularly those we deem to be a threat. For this reason, we need coping mechanisms.
Beloved, even Jesus experienced emotions like these. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus famously wept, and due to his trepidation about the trial and crucifixion he would soon endure, he, "being in agony prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground," Luke 22:44. Even his friends failed him in this, the time of his greatest need and fear. Notice; however, that he gathered himself, evidently embracing who he was, whose he was and what his mission was. He then proceeded and fulfilled his ministry and all prophecy. Ultimately, he knew that once he endured all he was facing, he would go home to the Father and be glorified, John 17:1-5.
One of my favorite passages in all of the Bible is John 14:1-3. Therein lies a promise that I believe, that is inspiration for all I do and is an amazing deterrent to the fear, worry and anxiety I sometimes face. My coping mechanism is to "bottom line" things. What this means is, that in view of that Scripture, I know that I am going to one day go home and experience the glory of the Father, see my savior at His right hand and take my place in a dwelling place reserved just for me, regardless of anything that may happen to me or affect my life. I cannot tell you how much peace this gives me or how much it allows me to navigate through both the best and worst of times in an even and grounded manner. In times of fear and worry, consider 1 John 4:16-18. In times of fear and worry, consider Jesus.
Increasing in faith,
Lee
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Jesus on Board 11/19/2015
"And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, 'Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?' And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, 'Hush, be still.' And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm." Mark 4:37-39
Though it was an actual event (as opposed to one of the many parables Jesus had just spent a day preaching), there are arguable more profound lessons to be gleaned from this famous passage of scripture than the parables he so recently shared near the shore.
First, it is no revelation to know and understand that storms come into all of our lives. Being a Christian neither guarantees nor implies a life free of concerns, difficulties and unfortunate circumstances. In fact, Christ often said that the way would be perilous and fraught with challenges.
Second, when these storms come, take note of your surroundings. No one has to tell you that you are in a storm when it arrives. In fact, you may have to tell others. Two important things should be noticed, however. The first, as was the case with the apostles, is that you are in a boat. While it is true that the storm sometimes threatens to overtake the boat, the alternative here is that we could be in the midst of the sea without a boat, a situation that would be exponentially worse. Second, note that the storm does not overtake the boat but that the boat is afloat. The lesson here is that though our circumstances may rage around us and though we may feel in peril of our very lives, at that moment, we are not consumed but sustained.
Most important of all, Jesus was on board throughout the storm. Yes he was asleep but I submit to you that it was because he was tired from doing the Father's work of caring for us all day. More worthy of note, however, is the fact that he had no concern or fear about a storm that was raging on the earth that he made! There was zero chance that Jesus would perish and if it was true for him in that circumstance, it was true of all of those who were with him.
Beloved, our storms can be awfully fearsome things. We often panic, lose faith, give up hope and sometimes even want to jump out of a perfectly good floating boat. Let us be reminded that with Jesus on board, we simply need to exchange our fear for faith. It is Jesus and only Jesus that has truthfully said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" Heb 13:5. Further, know that faith conquers fear but only in proportion to its strength. We just need to make sure that we have invited Jesus aboard the boat of our lives.
Increasing in faith,
Lee
Though it was an actual event (as opposed to one of the many parables Jesus had just spent a day preaching), there are arguable more profound lessons to be gleaned from this famous passage of scripture than the parables he so recently shared near the shore.
First, it is no revelation to know and understand that storms come into all of our lives. Being a Christian neither guarantees nor implies a life free of concerns, difficulties and unfortunate circumstances. In fact, Christ often said that the way would be perilous and fraught with challenges.
Second, when these storms come, take note of your surroundings. No one has to tell you that you are in a storm when it arrives. In fact, you may have to tell others. Two important things should be noticed, however. The first, as was the case with the apostles, is that you are in a boat. While it is true that the storm sometimes threatens to overtake the boat, the alternative here is that we could be in the midst of the sea without a boat, a situation that would be exponentially worse. Second, note that the storm does not overtake the boat but that the boat is afloat. The lesson here is that though our circumstances may rage around us and though we may feel in peril of our very lives, at that moment, we are not consumed but sustained.
Most important of all, Jesus was on board throughout the storm. Yes he was asleep but I submit to you that it was because he was tired from doing the Father's work of caring for us all day. More worthy of note, however, is the fact that he had no concern or fear about a storm that was raging on the earth that he made! There was zero chance that Jesus would perish and if it was true for him in that circumstance, it was true of all of those who were with him.
Beloved, our storms can be awfully fearsome things. We often panic, lose faith, give up hope and sometimes even want to jump out of a perfectly good floating boat. Let us be reminded that with Jesus on board, we simply need to exchange our fear for faith. It is Jesus and only Jesus that has truthfully said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" Heb 13:5. Further, know that faith conquers fear but only in proportion to its strength. We just need to make sure that we have invited Jesus aboard the boat of our lives.
Increasing in faith,
Lee
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