“No Dread, No Fear” ( Psalm 56:4, WYC ) by Carley Evans

David with the Head of Goliath (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

‘What people do to me, I shall not dread or fear for I hope and trust in God,’ sings the psalmist.

“In God I shall praise my words; I hoped in God, I shall not dread what thing flesh, or man, shall do to me. (Yea, I shall praise God with my words; for I trust in God, and I shall not fear what any person shall do to me.)”

With complete trust in God, it makes sense that I would not fear anything someone might decide to do to me. Fear and dread and worry indicate a lack of trust in God, especially a diminishing of belief in His perfect will. Jesus, for a moment, asks God the Father if perhaps His perfect will might be fulfilled in some other perfect way than through crucifixion and death. But, within the same breath, Jesus says: ‘But not My will Lord, but Yours.’

Since Jesus is without sin, it follows His dread of the cross is part of His sacrifice for us. His fear relieves our fear just as His punishment deflects the punishment meant for us.

So, day in and day out, our worries and fears and dreads — though natural reactions to the stresses of living — should never define us. What should define you and me is our trust and hope in God, who is perfect and “who works all things together for good to those who are call according to His purposes.”

 

“That Dread Of The Lord” ( Psalm 103: 17, WYC ) by Carley Evans

English: Fear The Lord The left hand of the two similarly carved stones either side of the west entrance to St Leonard’s Church. 32432 “Fear the Lord your God and serve Him. Hold fast to Him and take your oaths in His name.” Deuteronomy 10:20 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Seems such a paradox that we should expect and obtain mercy from a God we dread.

“But the mercy of the Lord is from without beginning, and till into without end; on men dreading him.”

Our fear of the Lord might consume us if we did not know He desires mercy rather than judgment. We might still be hiding ourselves from His sight if not for His own sacrifice, so that we might approach His throne of grace where He always lives to intercede for us.

“And his rightfulness is into the sons of sons; (But the Lord’s love is without beginning, and without end; for those who fear him/for those who revere him. And his righteousness shall never fail the children of their children,) to them that keep his testament. And be mindful of his commandments; to do those. (yea, they who keep his covenant; and who remember his commandments, and who do them.)” (Psalm 103: 17-18)

That dread of the Lord makes my heart leap into my throat and my stomach drop into my bowel. My fear of being separated from Him for all eternity keeps me shaking and quaking when I read His Word: “be mindful of [My] commandments; to do those.” No way I can honestly say to Him, “Oh yes Lord, I keep all Your commandments.”

I look to the cross. I kneel at the throne of grace. I rely on Him, always. Otherwise, I’m stuck in that dread of the Lord.

“Feel The Same Thing Together” ( Romans 12: 14 – 16, WYC ) by Carley Evans

Essentially, Paul calls us to humility.

^“14 Bless ye men that pursue you; bless ye, and do not ye curse;

¹⁵ for to joy with men that joy, for to weep with men that weep.

¹⁶ Feel ye the same thing together; not understanding high things, but consenting to meek things^{[Feeling the same thing together; not savouring, or knowing, high things, but consenting to meek things, following meek fathers]}. Do not ye be prudent with yourselves;”

Of course, so does Jesus.

^“3 Blessed be poor men in spirit, for the kingdom of heavens is theirs. [Blessed be the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.]

⁴ Blessed be mild men [Blessed mild], for they shall wield the earth.

⁵ Blessed be they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.

⁶ Blessed be they that hunger and thirst rightwiseness, for they shall be fulfilled [for they shall be filled].

⁷ Blessed be merciful men [Blessed the merciful], for they shall get mercy.

⁸ Blessed be they that be of clean heart, for they shall see God.

⁹ Blessed be peaceable men, for they shall be called God’s children. [Blessed the peaceable, for they shall be called the sons of God.]

¹⁰ Blessed be they that suffer persecution for rightwiseness, for the kingdom of heavens is theirs [for the kingdom of heaven is theirs].”

We are not called to arrogance, war, haughtiness of spirit, ambivalence, impurity, or ease. Rather, we are called to mildness, poverty of spirit, peace, purity, mourning, and persecution.

In one sense, the words of Paul are reminiscent of the saying: Put yourself in the other person’s shoes, walk a mile in them, and then think about your attitude. Then, you may bless them that pursue you; you may weep with those who weep, and be joyful with those who are joyful.

“That Less Famous Verse” ( John 3:17, WYC ) by Carley Evans

Father & Son / Vater & Sohn (Photo credit: Malik_Braun)

Not for judgment — God the Father does not send Jesus His Son into the world for judgment purposes. In fact, that’s completely unnecessary for the world stands condemned already; judgment has been conferred; we are all doomed.

I am convinced if we start with this undeniable truth — that Jesus is a Savior and not a Judge, we might understand the level of His commitment to His Father’s purposes.

“For God sent not his Son into the world, that he judge the world, but that the world be saved by him.”

Jesus comes to earth to save, not to condemn. He comes to seek and save what is lost.

And what Jesus saves can not be lost.

“Swift To Hear” ( James 1:19, WYC ) by Carley Evans

Here James offers one of those tidbits of wisdom that might define my life if I would but follow it diligently –

“Know ye, my brethren most loved, be each man swift to hear, but slow to speak, and slow to wrath;”

Listening is key –

Open my ears and shut my mouth, and attend to what you are saying without formulating my response while you are still speaking. (Do this sometimes in a group, and you can wind up completely ignored; but I imagine you are also the group member most likely to know what was said — and meant  — by the other members.)

If I listen without a mind active in figuring out my own response, then it follows I have a better chance of fully understanding you and your viewpoint. Perhaps then I will be “slow to speak, and slow to wrath.” Sounds nice, doesn’t it?

“Into Good” ( Romans 15: 2, WYC ) by Carley Evans

English: Floodwaters isolate neighbours across the street at Bayswater, Milton, 1890. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Paul and Jesus speak often of brothers, but also of neighbours. Brothers, I presume, are fellow believers. Neighbours may or may not be Christians. Yet, Paul writes to the church at Rome:

^“Each of us please to his neighbour in good [into good], to edification.”

So we are to please our neighbours — whether or not they are believers — and we are to please them “into good, to edification.” We are called “to instruct and improve especially in moral and religious knowledge;” to “uplift, enlighten, and inform.” Edification implies speaking to our neighbours, but I speak little to most of my neighbours. How about you?

I know the family to my left very well. The house behind me — I see them once in a blue moon in their yard. The people on my right, I wave to and speak with on occasion. The couple across from me — now and then. One house on my street stands completely empty – a sign of the economic times. I just met the man at the very end of my street, and I’ve lived here more than fifteen years! My neighbours are essentially strangers with the exception of the three men next door: an elderly man and his two grown sons. I eat with them often!

But, do I edify them?

“Be United” ( 1 Corinthians 1:10, HCSB ) by Carley Evans

Paul (Photo credit: Missional Volunteer)

Paul writes to the church at Corinth – and to us:

“Now I urge you, brothers, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction.”

Obviously Paul is aware of differences of opinions among Christians; after all, he himself disagrees with Peter and does so openly in regards to following Jewish customs such as requiring circumcision and avoiding certain foods and celebrating special days and so on. The unity Paul urges Christians to have is a fundamental coming together under the headship of Christ. We are to have in common “the same understanding and the same conviction” when it comes to the Lord and our relationship with Him.

Unfortunately since Jesus ascended into heaven, divisions continue to blossom like  yellow weeds and then to spread like dead dandelions, splitting out into and carried by the wind.

The organized church is decadent and dysfunctional.

But what of the Church? What of the Body of Christ? Is the Church divided? What are the basic tenets of Christianity? And, do Christians — i.e. the Church — see eye to eye on these tenets? If so, then what are we fighting over? And, why? If not, then why not? Why is the Church incapable of having a common understanding and the same conviction regarding the Lord?

“In Everything?” ( 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, HCSB ) by Carley Evans

Sculpture – head of Jesus Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“Rejoice always! Pray constantly. Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

God tells us to “give thanks in everything.” Sometimes this seems impossible! But note : God doesn’t say give thanks for everything; instead He commands us to be grateful in everything! You may not rejoice that you are unemployed or unhealthy, but you can give thanks while you are without a job or in poor health. Your attitude makes the difference between defeat and victory in Christ!

The main idea is that God wills you to rejoice always in Christ, who is your ultimate circumstance! As you live in Him, gratitude naturally flows from your heart. Be victorious because He is your victory!

“Powerful Requests” ( James 5:16, HCSB ) by Carley Evans

Woodcut for “Die Bibel in Bildern”, 1860. Deutsch: Holzschnitt aus “Die Bibel in Bildern”, 1860. Erster Tag, Gott scheidet das Licht von der Finsternis. Français : Gravure en bois pour «Die Bibel in Bildern», 1860. Português: 1º dia: Criação da Luz. Gn 1:3. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What makes an “urgent request” powerful? James says that righteousness makes our prayers effective, i.e. “very powerful.” And what does James define as “righteousness?” He says that righteousness is the direct result of healing. How does James say we are healed? He says that healing comes from confession of sins.

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.”

Simply put, don’t go before God the Father in prayer without first confessing your sins. With confession comes His healing, and with His healing comes righteousness, and with righteousness comes power.

“Patience In Pain” ( Romans 12:12, HCSB ) by Carley Evans

“Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.”

Paul doesn’t say “rejoice in affliction.” He doesn’t expect himself or others to revel in misery. Rather he calls us to “rejoice in hope,” in the hope of our salvation primarily but even in our walk with God. He says to us, ‘yes, you have pain here’ but you must be patient as you tread through it, and “be persistent in prayer.”

Prayer is one expression of hope. As we pray, we anticipate a positive answer — and even if the answer is negative, we long for God’s listening ear and the quieting of His voice: “Be still, and know that I Am God.”

If we turn to the left, He whispers. If we turn to the right, He may shout. At least we know He is always with us, “even to the ends of the earth.”