Of Whom Shall I Be Afraid?
Good Morning Friends,
Perhaps you are plagued by some artificial anxieties….some counterfeit concerns…some fabricated frights. If you are, part of the problem might be you have not let God open your eyes to the true nature of the battle. Yes there is oppression in the world and yes just because you are paranoid does not mean they are not out to get you, but think with me for a moment and imagine that perhaps we can be fighting the wrong conflict. Maybe the real conquest is not what the world tells us. Maybe the challenge of courage is not external at all. Maybe the first thing is to have the right strategy from the inside. Of Whom Shall I Be Afraid?
Scripture: But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.
Isaiah 9:1-4 (NRSV)
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh— my adversaries and foes— they shall stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident. One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple. For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock. Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me! “Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!” Your face, Lord, do I seek. Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help. Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation!
Psalm 27:1-9 (NRSV)
Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose.
1 Corinthians 1:10 (NRSV)
Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
Matthew 4:12-17 (NRSV)
For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12 (NRSV)
Message: Today we have scripture from the lectionary later this month. One of their central themes, though not always stated outright, is about fear. Fear is a powerful emotion — it can grip us with an immobilizing terror. It can keep us from succeeding in life. Fear can steal our joy. Fear can take our courage and leave us shaking uncontrollably.
I think we all fear oppression and injustice. To overcome oppression one has to overcome fear. It is not an easy task for history is filled with examples of the oppressed becoming oppressors who never stopped fearing. Two thousand years ago everybody was looking toward Rome as the oppressors and they were. But perhaps the focus was a bit misplaced. You have heard it said that fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and that is true for there is really nothing else for us to fear. And believe me, God does not want us to waste our lives needlessly fearing and you don’t want that either. But that does not stop us, does it? We fear all sorts of things. The thing is that everyone has a fear… You may have a fear of death, failure, defeat, rejection, or a host of other things. But friends, in time you will find that only God’s perfect love castes out all fear. Then we learn that there is something about being in the presence of someone who is stronger than we are, that soothes our fears and gives us the courage to love and be loved. Unless we have that, evil is sure to win out. When we love we are victors over our fears.
Pray we realize the spiritual nature of the battle. Pray we submit to God. Pray that we are cognizant of our emotions. Pray we experience the presence of God’s love on our lives. Pray we realize that when God is with us there is no reason to fear…when God is for us, no one can stand against us. Pray we remember our victories with God. Pray we not dwell on the fact we are smaller and weaker and outnumbered. Pray we realize that the Holy Spirit in us is greater than the evil in the world. Pray therefore we seek the Kingdom so that we be with God and actively seeking to love and be loved.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 