All of us have fears and they change with the changing seasons of our lives. When I was a father of four small children, I feared something happening to me wherein I would not be able to provide for them. I feared something happening to them worse than injury or failure. I feared, probably most of all, something happening to their Mother since I had no idea how I'd take care of four kids!
All of us have fears.
As I've gotten older my fears have changed. I now have more thoughts on health concerns than anything else. Linda and I recently met with some friends who are our age and as we drove away we both commented on how wonderful it was to be with them - AND, not once did we talk about health issues!
I have fears about future issues. I watched my Mother battle Alzheimer's Disease for over 10 years and saw her lose her memory of almost everyone she knew. I watched my Father battle disease for the last couple of years of his life before he succumbed to it. As a Pastor, I've stood with brothers and sisters in community as they have gone through innumerable pains from disease, divorce, depression, and more.
All of us have fears - yours are probably different in many ways, and in some ways, you probably have some similar ones.
It's not always bad to have fears. I buckle my seat belt, look both ways at intersections, lock the doors, turn on lights in the dark, fill up the car with gas when it gets below a quarter tank, check for weird sounds, read articles about prevention and pain, on and on I could go.
Sometimes our fears are proved to be pointless; but I don't think fears are bad - they can help us be prudent and discerning if we allow them to.
But, sometimes they can be paralyzing and prevent us from moving forward in life.
For example, I woke up in the middle of the night, and the first thought in my mind was about death! Why? I do not know. I found myself realizing that I could not get back to sleep because it had invaded my mind and imagination with all sorts of fears. But, I recalled a passage of scripture:
Hebrews 2:14-15
14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil--
15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
Although we know all will eventually die, our ultimate goal in life is to live. Yet the fear of death is real. But the writer of Hebrews reminds us that the enemy of God uses the issue of death against us - unless we have our faith in Jesus who as a human also died, and showed that death has no power in the face of eternal life in God.
Fear - the proper fear - is protective, prudent, and wise.
Proverbs 3:5-7
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.
There is a fear "of the Lord" that is not based on quaking fear of judgment...
1 John 4:18
18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
But one that recognizes the wisdom and power of that wisdom in life that deserves respect and awe over the so called wisdom, or foolishness of the world:
Proverbs 9:6-12
6 Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.
7 "Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.
8 Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you.
9 Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.
10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For through me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer."
Even Jesus weighed in on this when confronted with the anger and opposition of the religious leaders.
Luke 12:4-5
4 "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.
5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.
SO, I do have fears... and yet I'm a person who realizes that some, while all too real, are not worth the time and anxiety spent on them. There are eternal issues that God in scripture makes clear are worth the time to spending time thinking about.
Your thoughts?
Peace
All of us have fears.
As I've gotten older my fears have changed. I now have more thoughts on health concerns than anything else. Linda and I recently met with some friends who are our age and as we drove away we both commented on how wonderful it was to be with them - AND, not once did we talk about health issues!
I have fears about future issues. I watched my Mother battle Alzheimer's Disease for over 10 years and saw her lose her memory of almost everyone she knew. I watched my Father battle disease for the last couple of years of his life before he succumbed to it. As a Pastor, I've stood with brothers and sisters in community as they have gone through innumerable pains from disease, divorce, depression, and more.
All of us have fears - yours are probably different in many ways, and in some ways, you probably have some similar ones.
It's not always bad to have fears. I buckle my seat belt, look both ways at intersections, lock the doors, turn on lights in the dark, fill up the car with gas when it gets below a quarter tank, check for weird sounds, read articles about prevention and pain, on and on I could go.
Sometimes our fears are proved to be pointless; but I don't think fears are bad - they can help us be prudent and discerning if we allow them to.
But, sometimes they can be paralyzing and prevent us from moving forward in life.
For example, I woke up in the middle of the night, and the first thought in my mind was about death! Why? I do not know. I found myself realizing that I could not get back to sleep because it had invaded my mind and imagination with all sorts of fears. But, I recalled a passage of scripture:
Hebrews 2:14-15
14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil--
15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
Although we know all will eventually die, our ultimate goal in life is to live. Yet the fear of death is real. But the writer of Hebrews reminds us that the enemy of God uses the issue of death against us - unless we have our faith in Jesus who as a human also died, and showed that death has no power in the face of eternal life in God.
Fear - the proper fear - is protective, prudent, and wise.
Proverbs 3:5-7
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.
There is a fear "of the Lord" that is not based on quaking fear of judgment...
1 John 4:18
18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
But one that recognizes the wisdom and power of that wisdom in life that deserves respect and awe over the so called wisdom, or foolishness of the world:
Proverbs 9:6-12
6 Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.
7 "Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.
8 Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you.
9 Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.
10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For through me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer."
Even Jesus weighed in on this when confronted with the anger and opposition of the religious leaders.
Luke 12:4-5
4 "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.
5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.
SO, I do have fears... and yet I'm a person who realizes that some, while all too real, are not worth the time and anxiety spent on them. There are eternal issues that God in scripture makes clear are worth the time to spending time thinking about.
Your thoughts?
Peace
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