Fear Not... Then Sing

How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land? If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill! Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy! (Psalm 137:4-6 ESV)

Fear Not… then Sing

The Judeans exiled to Babylon had reached the end of their fear.  Traveling 1678 miles from Jerusalem to Babylon was undoubtably terrifying.  Unfamiliar roads, strange lands, and an unknown new home would understandably be a cause for ulcers, worries, and insecurities.  And that new home involved mocking conquerors, cruel prejudices, and logical hopelessness.

But the people sang.

They sang looking back.  They sang remembering God’s Holy Jerusalem. They sang embracing the joy of God’s presence.

As their new home become more homely, fear retreated.  And in that strange, uncomfortable peace and rest, the people sang.

Some of them sang long past their fears.  Some of them sang just over fear’s edge.  Some of them sang while still fearful.  Some of them sang before they found even a slight end of fear.  But they sang.

Something about music connects us to the after-fear.  When we sing of our God, particularly, such music calms His people, encourages His people, strengthens His people, and moves His people further into His kingdom.  After fear, God’s music prepares, provides, and protects us.

Fear not, then sing.

Fear Not... Then Look

When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds,  I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. (Genesis 9:14,15 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Look

In the midst of a terrible snowstorm, I lost control of my vehicle and spun out on a freeway exit ramp.  Between the blizzard, centrifugal force, and the headlights of other cars, I lost connection with reality and I… was… terrified.

I landed safely, just beneath a stoplight.  I was even facing the correct direction.

And then my fear subsided.

But the next time it snowed hard, fear knocked at my door.  Would the same tragedy occur?  Would my brief history repeat itself? Would I be able to control my vehicle?

But as I drove in the next blizzard, I paid particular attention to the grip my rear tires had on the snow.  I noticed the tracks ahead of me that did NOT swing into the ditch.  I observed the traffic patterns around me.  And those things diminished my fear.

Events which cause fear tend to repeat.  Economic swings repeat.  Illness come in waves.  Relationships that struggled yesterday will have struggles tomorrow.  Bad weather re-occurs.

In Genesis 9, God promises something about this.  He promises Noah (and us) that when it starts to rain, we do not need to fear earth-wide flood.  I expect that the first time it rained after the ark landed, Noah and his family got a bit nervous.  I expect that lightning flashes and thunder made them a little afraid.  I expect that the first long rain made Noah want to reach for a hammer and saw.

But looking at the rainbow calmed them.  Not because rainbows are soothing.  But because God gave the rainbow to remind Humans that God promised He would not do that terrible flood thing again.

I believe and observe that God gives us those kinds of signs often.  He gives us wedding rings to remember promised fidelity.  He gives us sunny days and rainy days to remind us of His provision. He gives us the cross to remind us of THE CROSS.

Problems will keep coming, even after Jesus has dealt with our fears.

Look around for the rainbows God shows us to calm our NEXT fears.

Near not, then look.

Fear Not... Then Obey

Then the Lord said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, (Genesis 7:1 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Obey

Little Jacob had been hit by the pitched baseball the last time he was up to bat.  He did not want to stand in the batter’s box again.  But I sat down with him and said some encouraging words.  Eventually he stood up.  He declared that he was not afraid.  He looked me in the eye and repeated the coaching commands I had pushed that week. 

“Lean on the back foot.  Grip the bat firmly.  Swing with my waist.”

And he hit a home run, his first of many.

Obedience is not respected these days.  Many folk think of obedience as doing something we do not really want to do.  But actually, Noah knew that obedience is something we get to do when we are no longer afraid.

God’s coaching words are more important than mine were.  And the instructions God gave to Noah were not useless commands, meant to test Noah.  They were telling Noah the right thing for Noah to do.

Get in the ark.

When fear is gone, we do not need to feel lost or insecure.  God has told us what to do.  Choose actions that enable you to love God, and others.  Choose actions that build up, and not destroy.  Choose actions that come from your relationship with Jesus, and not from your self-focus.

Fear Not, then obey.

Fear Not... Then Worship

Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28 ESV)

Fear Not… then Worship

We often call the Apostle Thomas, “doubting.”  And he did doubt.  We could also add adjectives like fearful, timid, worried, or hesitant.  Because he does seem to be those things, too.

But at the end of this episode, he has left fear behind.  Thomas is no longer afraid, timid, worried, or hesitant.  Instead, in a simple format, Thomas worships.

His exclamation does not include a Call to Worship, two Hymns, a Congregational Prayer, or a Sermon.   But it is worship, nonetheless.

From start to finish, worshippers declare, “my Lord and my God!”

Thomas is not one of the major actors in the book of Acts.  He is listed as among the apostles gathered in Jerusalem after the Ascension of Jesus to heaven. (Acts 1:13) But Thomas is not one of the key evangelists or martyrs described in Acts. 

Maybe because here, standing among the remnant of his fears, Thomas does enough. He worships.  He worships because now that fear is gone, he can.  He worships because now that fear is gone, He can see Jesus as He is.  He worships because now that fear is gone… there is nothing better or higher to do.

In those peaceful-ish moments after fear has been vanquished, we get to do the same thing.  On Sunday, yes!  But in the moment at home, in the car, at work, in the middle of the night.  Do not let fear be defeated without following Thomas’s example.

Fear not, then worship.

Fear Not... Then Share

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (II Corinthians 1:3,4 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Share

I once played an exploration and hide-and-seek game in the tunnel-like basement of a friend’s dad’s warehouse complex.  We had no lights, no map, and no knowledge of where the tunnels really led.  While we started in good spirits, eventually we become uncomfortable, then worried, and finally scared.

We crawled when we had to, stood when we could, and eventually gripped each other in a longish line of terrified teenagers.  We were lost, impatient, embarrassed, and frightened.

I found myself near the end of our centipeding line.  It was so dark that I did not know if my eyes were closed or open.  But I still remember what happened when the first crawler found his way out.

He shouted.

He announced safety.

He, having found peace and an end to his fear, gave hope to the rest of us.

When Christ Jesus provides an end to our fears, we have the same duty as my first-freed friend.

Pass the hope to others.  Pass the joy to others.  Pass the peace to others.

Fear not, then share.

Fear Not... Then Stop Looking

These were his last words. As they watched, he was taken up and disappeared in a cloud. They stood there, staring into the empty sky. Suddenly two men appeared—in white robes! They said, “You Galileans!—why do you just stand here looking up at an empty sky? This very Jesus who was taken up from among you to heaven will come as certainly—and mysteriously—as he left.” (Acts 1:10-11 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Stop Looking.

If an angel spoke to me, I would probably listen.  These particular angels seem rather subdued compared to the angels outside of Eden, (Genesis 3:24) Ezekiel’s angels, (Ezekiel 10:19) or the angels singing in front of the shepherds.  (Luke 2:9,13) Perhaps it was because the apostles had already just gotten over the fear of seeing Jesus ascend into heaven.

Jesus told them what to do once He was gone.  He promised them His power and instructed them regarding His plan for Kingdom growth. (Acts 1:9) In fact, in Matthew’s account of this event, Jesus smashed their fears by promising them, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”(Matthew 28:20 ESV)

Who in our right mind would continue to be afraid if we knew Jesus was with us?

And so the angels sent to nudge the apostles off from their mountain did not need to shock them.  The apostles just needed a nudge.  As amazing as the sky-view was, it was time to do what Jesus had said to do.

Perhaps angels do not speak to me because I am in the same position as the apostles.  While it is comfortable in a post-fear state… looking with wonder at the chem-trails of God’s actions around me… I, too, need to be nudged.

And so do you.

We have work to do.

Fear not, then stop looking.

Fear Not... Then Work

And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” … the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. (Genesis 3:8-10, 23 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Work

I am afraid of heights.  This is not a useful attribute for a house-painter.  But one morning, my boss, having disregarded my fear, sent me to paint the eaves of a two-story house.  As could have been predicted, I stretched too far, attempting to reach that one far corner… and the ladder and Tom toppled over. 

I was on the ground.  And I realized that I had not broken any bones.  And I realized that the ground was softer than it looked.  And I realized that falling fifteen feet was not as bad as I had anticipated.

And my fear of heights, for that summer anyway slithered away.

I got back up.  I reset the ladder.  I prepared new paint.  I went back to work.

Adam did that, too.

He had a different job, slightly.  But after his fear was gone, because of God’s Grace and Mercy, Adam went back to work in the garden.

It was not a dazzling, glitzy, showy job.  And he rolled up his toga-sleeves and went back to work.

After the fear is lessened… we have work to do!  And maybe it is the same work we had before we were afraid.

Fear not, then work.

Fear Not... Then Solitude

There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and  (I Kings 19:9 ESV)

Fear Not… then Solitude

Elijah had seen God do amazing things.  Just a little while ago, He saw God embarrass the false priests of Baal, bring unexpected rain, and bring victory against Ahab and Jezebel.

You would expect Elijah to be confident in God.

But even though those fears were overcome, Elijah faced new fears.  Jezebel sought revenge.  The Israelites still did not like Elijah’s sermons.  And so Elijah fled.

After his fear, Elijah sought solitude.

And God spoke to Elijah, there.

After our fears, in between fears, or after new fears, sometimes God is best found in solitude.

In quiet meditation.  In quiet prayer.  In quiet study of God’s Word.  In quiet expectation.

Not in sullen self-pity.  Not in terror-driven hiding.  Not in rejection of God’s Word, God’s Work, and God’s Wonders.

When we see God victorious over the things that have frightened us, the next step sometimes is quiet reflection.

Perhaps because the distractions are less.  Perhaps because in our solitude, we will know we are not alone.  Perhaps because silence really is golden.

Fear not, then solitude.

Fear Not... Then Community

 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. (Matthew 18:20 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Community

Did you ever watch the Saturday Morning Cartoon about a group of children who were plain old kids… unless they were all in the same place, and could CLICK their rings together?  Then suddenly CAPTAIN PLANET appears!

It was a pretty silly cartoon.

But it had a good point.  Together, those children had power.  Together, those children could solve any problem.  Together, those children had nothing to fear.

Our fears can be overcome by Christ Jesus.  But after we are not afraid, problems keep coming.  Maybe even worse than they were before we reached peace.

The next step, the next defense against those fears, the next victory can be found in Christian community.  We might not have a power ring, but we have Christ Jesus.

And He is the answer to our fears!  The fears that we have overcome, AND the fears that will come tomorrow.

Community is great, but not merely because community defeats loneliness.  A community in Christ connects us to Him!  Community in Christ connects us to the reason for our connection!  Community in Christ is the way to forge ahead, after our fears have diminished.

Because Community in Christ is… well… in Christ!

Fear not, then Community.

Fear Not... Then Fear Not

But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” (Matthew 14:30 ESV)

Fear Not… then Fear Not.

Many ailments require only one treatment.  Usually, a broken bone requires one cast.  Usually, a bout with the flu requires one treatment.  Usually, tonsilitis is ultimately treated one time.  But I have a shot of insulin three times each day, every day.   My pancreas fails every day, so I need insulin every day.

Jesus, as a cure for fear, is like insulin.  We need Him repeatedly.

As Peter is walking on the water, right in front of Jesus, Peter becomes afraid.  Even though Peter, through Christ, overcame fear moments ago.  He had stopped fearing the confusing appearance of Jesus.  He had stopped fearing the storm. 

He had his medicine: Jesus.

But now, once more, Peter is afraid.

Again.

The fear disease shows up again.  Like ants at a picnic, mosquitos while fishing, and bad officials at a football game… fear repeats.

And so, Peter cries out to Jesus… once more looking for help overcoming fear.

The process for Peter’s fear reduction needs to be repeated.  The treatment gets to be applied again. 

Peter might have thought he was over his fear… but instead he found that he got to ‘fear not’ at least once more.

Jesus is the medicine that keeps on curing.

Fear not, then fear not.

Fear Not... Then Laugh

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,

we were like those who dream.

2     Then our mouth was filled with laughter,

and our tongue with shouts of joy;

       then they said among the nations,

“The Lord has done great things for them.”

3     The Lord has done great things for us;

we are glad. (Psalm 126:1-3 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Laugh

Once, when I was in Middle School, I found myself facing a group of hostile teenagers.  They outnumbered me, and by the look of them, they knew how to handle themselves in a fight better than I could hope.

I thought I had a group of my friends behind me.  So when I said, “WE will make you move out of our way!” The others just smiled.

I turned around and realized my predicament.  I was terrified.

So I laughed.  A weak, timid, embarrassed sort of laugh.

And ran.

But that is not the kind of laughter that the Psalmist presents.  I laughed in desperation and fear.  I laughed to distract them.  I laughed because I could not think of anything else to do.

But the Psalmist laughs because he (and all of Zion) realized that God had done great things.  He (and all of Zion) realized that God had turned their sorrow into joy.  He (and all of Zion) realized  that their fears had been bathed, drowned, and destroyed by God’s goodness.

When our trust outweighs our fear, we can laugh like that.  When our faith outweighs our fear, we can laugh like that.  When our hope outweighs our fear, we can laugh like that.  When our awareness of the incredible love of our God outweighs our fear, we can laugh like that.

When we stop being afraid, laughter has room to take root.

Now what?  Laugh!

Fear Not... then Praise

And David spoke to the LORD the words of this song on the day when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said,

“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,

my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,

my shield, and the horn of my salvation,

my stronghold and my refuge,

my savior. (I Samuel 22:1-3 ESV)

Fear not… then Praise!

David was getting old. His most loyal friends finally told him he was not welcome out on the battlefield, where his life was at risk. He listened to them, and then the Biblical narrative (I Samuel 22:18-22) describes the success of Israel against her remaining enemies.

This story potentially has fear woven through it. Were the friends afraid of the loss of the mighty King David? Was David afraid that he was no longer necessary? Was Israel afraid of the last of Goliath’s kin, the giants?

Yet the word, “fear” is not uttered in this tale. Perhaps fear was present, but we learn instead about what happened after fear had left. Obviously, the Israelites were successful, despite any fear they felt. David was protected, Israel was safe, the Israelite army was victorious. But David does something that he actually did throughout his life… regardless of fear… in the absence of fear… or after fear was gone.

He praised his God.

It is more than simply having a grateful heart or proclaiming eloquent thanks for God’s actions. David, after fear and fear’s threat profoundly poems, “GOD IS AMAZING!” As David realizes that God has protected both David AND Israel, David’s focus becomes on God Himself. David does not focus on the events that might have caused fear. David focused on the God who removes all reason for fear.

Giving thanks is a good thing, of course… but praising God is better. Thanksgiving focuses on what God has done for us, praise focuses on the One True Living God. Thanksgiving focuses on our peace, satisfaction, and blessings, praise focuses on the One True Living God. Thanksgiving focuses on our experienced results, praise focuses on the One True Living God.

God enables us to fear not.

Now what? Praise Him!

Fear Not... Now What? (Introduction)

Fear Not… Now What?

But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27 ESV)

Fear not… but Jesus.

Christians today seem to have many reasons to fear. We spent most of last year examining most of the Biblical comments, commands, and encouragements to NOT be afraid.

We fear God’s enemies of the flesh, the world, and Satan.

… but Jesus.

We fear a viral disease that has been a part of the death of many, and now seems to be offering faster moving, more deadly mutations.

… but Jesus.

We fear the emergency powers granted (and taken by) our elected government.

… but Jesus.

We fear the loss of, surrender of, or trampling of ‘our rights.’

… but Jesus.

If we have abandoned fear, as I hope we have, what then?

What happens after we have found peace, rest, and hope in not being afraid?

Let us examine what happens after fear is gone.

I expect we will find that after fear, our next beliefs, choices, and actions will have something to do with Jesus, don’t you?

Satan and Love

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (II Corinthians 4:4 ESV)

Satan and Love

Satan and the spiritual aspect of our daily battles, in some sense, is the most difficult part with which we grapple. Unlike the flesh and the world, the spiritual fight is not detectible by our senses. Our objective mind struggles to grasp it. It is more mysterious than understood.

Perhaps that feels more scary. Perhaps that makes it more intimidating. Perhaps that gives us reason to be more insecure. Perhaps that births fear, and worry, and heart-freeze.

But it should not.

The more we do not understand about this type of warfare, the more we are forced to depend on Christ. We depend on Christ when battling the flesh and the world, too. But we are more prone to trust ourselves, if we perceive we can handle it on our own.

When it comes to spiritual warfare, Christ is our first, middle, and last defense.

And our relationship with Christ is founded by, funded by, and fed by love.

My seminary professor, Dr. Knox Chamblin, taught that modern Christians make two mistakes when it comes to Satan. We either over-emphasize him, or under-emphasize him.

But either way, the Christian’s answer to Satan is love. Christ’s love defeats every effort of Satan. Christ’s unconditional love defeats the guilty accusations that Satan whispers. Christ’s sacrificial love pays our undeserved way through heaven’s gates. Christ’s powerful and providential love turns Satan’s ploys into Christian victory.

Take the love God grants us.

The World and Hope

“…and in his name the Gentiles will hope.” (Matthew 12:21 ESV)

In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious. (Isaiah 11:10)

The World and Hope

It has been so cold for so long! The inclement weather began here last Saturday. First came the snow, accumulating and settling. The frigid cold followed. Day after day, it continues. And the forecast of relief has always seemed an ever shifting few days ahead.

The threat of power outages, the grey dismal skies, and the biting wind combine to make the next few days loom rather than bustle on our calendars.

Looking at the meteorologist’s promises does not help. Because what we SEE outweighs the map’s promise.

This is similar to our outlook regarding God’s enemy, the world. At first glance, Christianity seems on the decline, numerically. Right and Wrong are miss-defined in society. Anger and selfishness are rampant. The world, in our eyes, is overcoming God and His people.

That is exactly why God gives us the gift of hope. Romans 8:24 says, “For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?” We cling to hope when our observation tempts us to dismay and despair.

The good news of the gospel is more than a promise of heaven. God’s enemy, the world, also finds its true hope in Christ Jesus… even though they do not know it, yet. In HIS name, the Gentiles will hope! And of HIM the nations will inquire!

When things look darkest, He gives hope.

Take the hope God grants us.

The Flesh and Faith

For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. (Romans 8:6 ESV)

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:24 ESV)

The Flesh and Faith

When the Bible uses the term, “flesh” as God’s enemy, we usually think of two aspects. First, the effects of Sin in creation. Since Adam, things do not work the way they were created. Plants do not grow correctly, (weeds!) decay and decline have become the natural norm, and things break down. All because of Sin.

Second, “flesh” refers to our old sinful nature. Our flesh is our pre-redeemed selves: Prone to wander, selfish rebellion, and God-denying.

God gives us faith to combat the flesh.

Salvific Faith transforms God’s children into new creatures, diminishing daily the old, and rebuilding the new. He has promised that this is what is happening with us, even when at times it does not seem like it. Faith defeats the flesh, ultimately… and even today.

Faith also results in the transformation of creation. God’s faithful folk live our lives transforming the chaos of sin’s effects into the God’s orderliness. We can see this occurring in improved medicine, farming techniques, and more knowledge of God’s creation. Faith defeats the effects of Sin in creation ultimately… and even today.

God gives us faith to combat the flesh.

Take the faith God grants us.

The Enemies of God

For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. (Galatians 5:17 ESV)

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (I John 2:15 ESV)

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (II Corinthians 4:4 ESV)

During WWII, immediately after D-Day, many newspapers announced that the Axis had been defeated. The incursion of the Allies into Normandy, combined with the growing success of the Soviets on the Eastern Front made the end of the war all but inevitable. But much work remained. Much more bloodshed. Much more struggle.

God has three enemies, as described in His Word. These enemies are the flesh, the world, and Satan. And while Christ defeated EVERY enemy through His life, His death, and His restored life, we continue to be caught in the remains of the struggle. The war’s end is known, but the battles continue.

God has given us three wonderful and powerful gifts with which to fight. He gives us faith, He gives us hope, and He gives us love. (I Corinthians 13:13)

We have been examining these three gifts for a few months, and the time has come to move on to a different topic in these short posts. But before we leave our examination of faith, hope, and love, we will examine how these three gifts line up for conflict with God’s three enemies.

We fight every day, and He gives us gifts to help every day.

Take the gifts God grants us.

Arguments and Love

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. (Psalm 127:3-5 ESV)

Arguments and Love

The victory, even in battles of words, is the Lord’s. (II Chronicles 20:15)

But here is a thing that makes me go, “hmmmmm.”

Christ does not just wave His magic wand to achieve His victories. He DOES empower us, guide us, and help us as we defend His truth. He does not need us, but His people rejoice in the opportunity to join with Him in the good fight.

Psalm 127 suggests a heart-warming benefit to loving relationships, such as families.

The love found in families gives us allies in arguments against God’s enemies. Obviously, Christians love in arenas outside of the family. It seems the Psalmist here describes the unity of a father and his children as the epitome of earthly love. But other relationships in Christ perform the same function.

Love gives us allies.

Christ Himself, of course, is THE ally. But He gives us additional help.

Take the love God grants us.

Arguments and Hope

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” (Matthew 5:38-39 ESV)

Arguments and Hope

Christ’s direction here is very hard to obey. We do not like it. He seems to want us to surrender. He seems to want us to ALWAYS surrender. He seems to want us to always surrender so that we always lose.

Who wants to do that?

But found in Christ’s command is actually a directive to live in hope.

Because Christ is not asking us to lose every conflict, ESPECIALLY not those conflicts in which we battle HIS enemies. Because His Word makes it clear that HE has already won the war, the battle, the fight, and the conflict. (among others: Colossians 2:15, I Corinthians 15:57, Romans 8:37, Deuteronomy 20:4, John 16:33, I John 4:4…)

When Christ tells us to ‘turn the other cheek’ He is giving us hope that WE do not need to strive for victory, because HE has already won. WE do not need to be concerned about the immediate conflict, because HE guarantees the victory. WE do not need to agonize over the battle raging around us, because vengeance, victory, protection, defense, offense, and every detail of that battle are already ensured… bought and paid for on the cross.

He does not merely say, “turn the other cheek,” or “do not attack back in arguments, do not squabble in the dirt.” He says, “The victory is firmly in my grasp. Let ME win.”

Take the hope God grants us.

Arguments and Faith

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19 ESV)

Arguments and Faith

The Lord is not being prophetic. The vengeance that He promises has ALREADY been won. Sin lost. All the enemies of God, the flesh, the world, and Satan lost. The cross, while appearing to defeat the Son of God, actually defeated God’s enemies.

So when our anger rises because someone has offended us, even when that anger is righteous, step back into faith. WE do not have to win arguments against evil. WE do not have to win debates against scoffers. WE do not have to win shouting matches defending anyone.

Because Christ already won.

I am not claiming that we should not always speak truth, in love (Ephesians 4:15, Zechariah 8:16) But when wielding the sword of God’s truth, winning does not need to be our goal. When challenging untruth, presenting truth is our only responsibility, winning does not need to be our goal. When fighting the war of words, neither exalt in winning, nor mourn in failure. Christ has already done all the winning for us.

Believing that brings peace.

Take the Faith God grants us.