Fear Not... Then Dance

And as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David dancing and celebrating, and she despised him in her heart. (I Chronicles 15:29 ESV)

Fear Not… and Dance

In the sitcom Malcolm in the Middle, one episode ends with a moving scene in which the parents, Hal and Lois, dance.  In each other’s eyes, the two dance glamorously and skillfully.  They twirl around the living room, eyes bright, bodies in sync, filled with winder.

Then the camera view changes, and we see Hal and Lois as they really are.  Two disheveled, exhausted, clumsy middle-aged folk barely able to keep rhythm.  The only wonder from this view is how they stay on their feet.

But they were not dancing for the camera.  They were dancing for each other’s eyes, and THAT dance is the true dance.  They did not care one bit what we thought of their ability, emotion, or presentation.  They danced most honestly for each other’s eyes.

Poor Michal could not see David’s dance as it really was.  David danced in worship of His amazing God.  He danced gloriously for the glory of the presence of God returned to God’s people.  He danced beautifully in response to the beauty of God’s goodness.  David danced without restraint, because his awe and wonder were without restraint.

He danced for One set of eyes.

You dance, too.  Even if your ‘dance’ is manifested in a facial expression instead of fancy footwork, dance because He is worth it.  Even if you ‘dance’ is speaking with fanaticism and enthusiasm for what Jesus does in your life, dance because He deserves it.  Even if your ‘dance’ is unabashed obedience to the One true Living God, dance because He loves it when you dance.

Even if your Michals laugh.  Who cares?

Fear not, then dance.

Fear Not... Then Try Obedience

And David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer. And the fame of David went out into all lands, and the Lord brought the fear of him upon all nations. (I Chronicles 14:16,17 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Try Obedience

King David had great fame.  The rest of the known world feared him.

But why?

Some might assume it was because of his shepherding skills, transferred to the army.  Some might think it was his strategic mind, learned in his years hiding from King Saul.  Some might think it was the super ninja skills of David’s Mighty Men. (I Chronicles 11:10-47 ESV) Some might think it was because of the timing of international intrigues and power vacuums. 

But we read here that David had success for one reason.

He did what God commanded him.

Not simply in military terms, but David loved to obey the Lord.  And the Lord blessed David for it.

Of course, David was not perfect.  But even his two big recorded disobedient acts (Bathsheba and counting the army) had the direct result of David losing the blessing of fame and reputation.

If you fear failure, try obedience.  If your reputation is floundering, try obedience.  If you, like David, desire to serve the Lord, try obedience.

Not to earn heaven, of course.  But because it makes God smile.

Fear not, then try obedience.

Fear Not... Then Understand

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. (Hebrews 11:3 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Understand

Understanding is comfortable.  Whether it is our car, economics, or our bodies, understanding is better than confusion.  Whether it is our spouse, our job, or our schedule, understanding is better than guessing.  Whether it is quantum physics, time travel, or black holes… well, think how much better it would be if we had understanding instead of theories!

This verse gives us hope when we do not understand something important.  God’s word, watered by faith, allows us to understand the oldest mystery: creation itself.

No one saw creation happen.  We humans have tried to figure it out by analysis of data.  We humans have tried to figure it out by proposing theories.  We humans have tried to figure it out by imagination, guesswork, and reason.

But understanding in this case comes through faith.

This verse is not important, though, just because it steps into the Creation debate.  It is important because it gives us a concrete example of how to approach other things that we cannot seem to understand. 

Things like guilt.  Things like grace.  Things like love.  Things like order and chaos.  Things like responsibility.  Things like hope.  Things like forgiveness.  Things like the future as well as the far distant past.

Fear not, then understand.

Fear Not... It Has Already Happened

For behold, the Lord is coming out of his place, and will come down and tread upon the high places of the earth. (Micah 1:3 ESV)

Fear Not… It Has Already Happened

Imagine that you found in a drawer a threatening letter from your bank.  The letter warned that if you did not make an adjustment to your mortgage schedule, your home ownership would be in doubt.  At first, your eyes would widen, your heartrate increase, and your worry quotient go through the roof.

Then you’d remember that the letter was an old one… and that the matter had been resolved years ago.

When we read Micah speak of God’s impending wrath, we might become frightened.  The Lord treading (stomping on) the high places of the earth sounds terrifying!  Our eyes might widen, our heartrate increase, and our worry quotient skyrocket.

But we would be foolish to fear.

Because this event has already happened.

We might think of the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile to Babylon as a fulfillment of this threat from Micah.  But that is not really what Micah was prophesying. 

There was no greater wrath-pouring than the wrath that was poured on Christ Jesus on the cross.

There was no higher high-place than the King of Kings, Prince of Peace, Son of God being wrath-stomped by God as Christ Jesus died.

God has no wrath left with which to stomp His people.  He stomped Jesus instead!

Whatever anger God rightly could have focused on you and me, He focused on Christ Jesus instead.

Micah’s foretelling of destruction was completely carried out as Christ Jesus suffered, died, and was sacrificed. 

Fear not, it has already happened.

Fear Not... Then Enjoy the Fish

And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. (Jonah 1:17 ESV)

Fear Not... Then Enjoy the Fish

Getting swallowed by a great fish would not be an enjoyable activity.  Without context of this story, we might be worried about ole Jonah.  A fish belly would not be a pleasant place to spend three days and three nights.

But Jonah’s context actually makes the belly look much better!

Jonah was drowning.  The sailors had thrown him overboard, and Jonah was sinking.  Before they tossed him in the ocean, it seems that the whole experience of God’s wrath had led them, somehow to faith! (Jonah 1:16) But Jonah was in a hopeless, impossible situation.

The fish was not more tragedy, it was the hope of salvation.

Our troubles can often be just like Jonah’s fish.  Financial ruin saves us from pride.  Illness saves us from self-sufficiency.  Relationship issues drive us to reconciliation.  And all of those things, like Jonah’s, drive us to the Messiah.

For Jonah, it was the Messiah-yet-to-be.  For us, it is the Messiah of yesterday, today, and tomorrow!

And anything that drives us to Jesus is grand!  Even if it hurts.

Fear not, then enjoy the fish.

Fear Not... Then See Your Blessings

All the families of the Earth will be blessed through you. (Genesis 12:3 The Message)

Fear Not… Then See Your Blessing

SPOILER ALERT

Stage Magicians are not magic.  It might LOOK like magic, SOUND like magic, TASTE like magic, and APPEAR to be magic.

But there is a reason we call their performances Magic Tricks. 

While we might think less of Stage Magicians for this, we should not.   Whether they mean to or not, they are imitating God.  He, too, usually uses Natural Means, not Supernatural Means when He works in the world.

He often heals through our immune system, and medicine.  He often provides through employment and investment.  In fact, He often loves through our hands, our mouths, and our hearts.

And God tells Abraham that God will be blessing all the families of the world through His people.

He blesses all the families of the world through you.

When you are feeling worthless and valueless, open your eyes a little wider. 

When you are aware of your failures and embarrassments, widen your perspective.

When you are wondering if it is worth trying, know that it is.

God IS blessing someone, something, or somewhere through you.

Fear not, then see your blessing.

Fear Not... Then Mind Your Boundaries

When Shem was 100 years old, he fathered Arpachshad two years after the flood. (Genesis 11:10 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Mind your Boundaries

In one of Clint Eastwood’s Dirty Harry movies, Harry profoundly utters, “A man’s gotta know his limitations.”  And Shem knew it, too.

The world after the flood was an intimidating place.  All the old landmasses had changed.  All the old civilization had sunk.  All the old ways were condemned, erased, and forgotten.  Shem, and his family, all had to start over.  And two years after the flood, Shem named a son Arpachshad, which means, “boundaries.”

The flood was the result of mankind ignoring God’s boundaries, particularly the worship and moral kind.  As Shem began to take part in the new world, perhaps he named his son in a way that would remind everyone of the importance of accepting God’s limits.

Shem’s line eventually led to the Messiah.  A few hiccoughs along the way might have caused his descendants, and those around them, to grow concerned about the state of things.

We could also have those concerns today.

But Arpachshad reminds us of the blueprint for society.  God’s instructions, God’s stated desires, God’s expectations are all necessary limitations. 

Not only is it ‘safer’ inside of God’s boundaries, it is the best place to be.

Fear not, then mind your boundaries.

Fear Not... Then Obey

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:8 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Obey

Benedict Arnold was a skillful general.  And if you read his letters and journals, you might conclude that he was also a humble man.  He wrote glowingly of people like George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and Ethan Allen. 

But he switched sides in the middle of the Revolutionary War because of pride.  His pride was not displayed in his words, on his face, or through his correspondence.  His pride was apparent because he was unwilling to obey someone else.

He disagreed with his superior officers.  And eventually, he could not humble himself enough to obey.  And today his name is synonymous with traitor.

Paul notes that Jesus’ humility was displayed in His willingness to obey His superior.  Even when He was commanded to die.  That is a MUCH harder command to obey than, “attack on the left flank first!”  But Jesus was humble.  He obeyed.

God’s commands do not always make sense to us.  Dishonesty seems prudent at times.  Opening a business on the Day of Rest makes financial sense.  Loving enemies is… ridiculous.

But before God, (and we are ALWAYS before God…) humble obedience is the path to satisfaction, honor, and joy. Whatever valleys you walk through, whatever troubles assail you, whatever fears lurk…

Fear not, then obey.

Fear Not... Then Progress

Then let us bring again the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul.” All the assembly agreed to do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. (I Chronicles 3:3,4 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Progress

Robert Burns, Scottish Poet extraordinaire, wrote, “The best laid plans of mice and men gang aft aglay.”  Once we understand the last phrase to mean, “go oft astray,” we can nod our head in agreement.  How often our plans fail to work out as we intend!

And this might make us afraid to plan, to decide, or to map out the future.

But King David understood the importance of planning.  He wanted progress, and he wanted it now.

David did not just want progress, though.  He wanted the progress that mattered most.  He was not concerned with accumulating more wealth.  He did not have his eyes fixed on the goal of fame.  He had not planned to form the most powerful and influential nation in the Middle East.

He planned to increase his (and the Israelites’) relationship with God.

So soon after David was crowned, he planned to bring the sign of God’s presence, the Ark of the Covenant, back to prominence. 

That is progress: more presence of God.  That is progress: more knowledge of God.  That is progress: more relationship with God.  That is progress: more God in our lives.

Our plans will gang aglay if our primary goals are selfish, humanistic, or national.

But yearn for the presence of the One True God in our lives?  That is progress!  Look daily for ways to think more about Jesus, talk more about Jesus, do more with Jesus? That is progress!  Start our day with the intention of, like the ark, seeing God’s hand in every situation?  That is progress!  Measure our day not through financial totals, popularity comparisons, or examining our feelings… but instead by how much we sought, noticed, and glorified Jesus… THAT is progress.

Fear not, then progress.

Fear Not... Then Glorify God

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (I Corinthians 10:31)

Fear Not… Then Glorify God

With so much freedom, we could call modern times the Age of Decisions.  And this might seem intimidating.  But it does not have to be that way.

Paul wrote these words in the context of a debate in the Corinthian church about whether food offered to idols in sacrifice became unholy.  Apparently, it was quite an argument.  No doubt the debaters applied logic, emotion, experience, and knowledge to support their case.

Paul says it was not as complicated as it seemed.

If the Corinthians were eating that food in a way that made others more impressed with God than they were before, eating was fine.  If they were eating that food in a way that made others want to know more about Jesus, eating was fine.  If they were eating that food in a way that made others trust in God more, eating was fine.

But if they were eating to show themselves righteous, eating was bad.  If they were eating to impress someone else, eating was bad.  If they were eating to bring themselves peace, or hope, or joy, eating was bad.

And that same test applies to every decision we make.  Is your goal helping someone else see God more fully?  Does the action you are about to take introduce someone else to the wonder of Christ Jesus?  Does your decision have less to do with you, and more to do with our Savior?

Then do not worry, you are probably on the right path.

Fear not, then glorify God.

Fear Not... Then Use the Enemy's Weapons

Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a Mighty Man from Kabzeel with many exploits to his credit: he killed two famous Moabites; he climbed down into a pit and killed a lion on a snowy day; and he killed an Egyptian, a giant seven and a half feet tall. The Egyptian had a spear like a ship’s boom but Benaiah went at him with a mere club, tore the spear from the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with it. (I Chronicles 11:22-23 The Message)

Fear Not.. Then Use the Enemy’s Weapons

God’s people do not fight physical giants today.  Today, our giants are of a different sort.  We face media empires intent on discrediting the church.  We face over-reaching governments intent on removing God from our choices.  We face an entrenched education system intent on deriding the very existence of God.  We face the common acceptance of common sin.  We face the physical effects of unrighteousness displayed in deteriorating immune systems, spreading illnesses, and exhaustion.  We face a level of spiritual warfare that our community does not even acknowledge, let alone fight.

Benaiah stood in front of a giant.  And in the moment of battle, he knew his club was not sufficient… even wielded by his skills and toned by his experience.

He chose to use, instead, the enemy’s weapon.  A spear big enough to hold a ship’s sail.  A terrifying tool that he was untrained to use.  A weapon out of his control as the gigantic giant himself.

And that weapon felled the giant.

We do not fight giants these days.  Beings like Goliath and the Egyptian giant are gone.  But our enemies are no less terrible.

Without avoiding any unrighteous activities, perhaps it is time to reach for the giant’s spear.

God’s enemies today effectively wield education as a weapon.  Atheists and agnostics have infiltrated our education system and have used it to discredit God’s Word.  We wield against it our small schools, home schools, and independent study.  And those are good ‘clubs.’  But perhaps it is time to take back the spear of the university.

God’s enemies today effectively wield the news media as a weapon.  Humanism and Statism are woven into the stories of today’s news like weeds and have all but choked out HIS story.  We wield against it our small study groups, conversations, and internet sites.  And those are good ‘clubs.’  But perhaps it is time to take back the spear of the media.

The gospel, of course, will triumph.  But this story makes me think…

Fear not, then use our enemies’ weapons.

Fear Not... Then Follow the Boss

And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. (Matthew 23:9 ESV)

Fear Not… and Follow the Boss

One of the worst jobs I ever held down had too many bosses.  One man and woman owned the business.  Another man was in charge of us physical laborers.  Another man set the overall schedule.  A woman controlled our daily activities.

That is not unusual, I suppose.  But each of these bosses believed they had ultimate authority.  Often we went through our day spinning our wheels… listening to one boss until another one contradicted those orders.  In the end, we learned to ask the owners what they wanted us to do.  Unfortunately, there were still two of them!

Many people claim authority over us.  And sometimes those authorities conflict, and make our lives difficult and a little scary.

But Jesus reminds us that we have one Father.  He is not denying that we have earthly parents, fathers, mothers, uncles, aunts, and even grandparents.  But over them is one Father.

He is not denying that God has delegated some authority to the State.  But over them is one Father.

He is not denying that God has delegated some authority to the Church.  But over them is one Father.

He is not denying that God has delegated some authority to fathers.  But over them is one Father.

And this seems like good news to us.  Who likes authority over us?  Human history is the story of rebellion against authority.

But we usually try to put ourselves over all those other authorities.  We want to listen to whomever we agree with.  Jesus says something different.

God is the ultimate authority.  Nothing else.

Fear not, then follow the boss.

Fear Not... Then Love

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:37-39 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Love

My weed-eater was taken apart and spread out on my workbench.  I sort of recognized most of the parts, but it had been two months since I took it apart.  I sort of remembered my plan of repair, but somehow, in that moment, all I could do was hold a socket wrench, 3-in-1 oil, and some duct tape… and stare at the disassembled machine.

I did not even know where to begin.

But then I recalled two basic tenets of lawn-machinery assembly.  First, figure out ALL the parts before assembling ANY parts.  And second, things that look like they fit together, probably do.

With those concepts as a foundation… the reassembly began! I was no longer afraid.

Each day, we have decisions spread out before us like a torn apart weed-eater on a workbench. Some days we do not know where to begin.

But Jesus gives us two basic tenets of the Christian life:  Love God, and Love Others.

Every decision fits onto those two foundations.  How can this decision enable me to love God?  And how can this decision enable me to love others?

I did not need a Masters’ Degree in Weed-eater-ology to know what to do.  And we do not need a Masters’ Degree in Theology, either.

We need two foundations.

Love God.

Love Others.

And we can know what to do in any situation.

Fear not, then love.

Fear Not... Then Live

I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.” (Matthew 22:32 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Live

After public speaking, the next statistically prominent fear is the fear of death.  Even Christians, strangely, fear death.

The rest of the world has good reason to be afraid of death.  Because even more than not knowing what is behind door number three, they do not know what happens when they die.  But Christians do know.  The only unsure thing is how MANY rooms are in our heavenly homes.  Jesus says that He is the God of what IS, not merely what WAS.  He IS the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob… who are still alive, because they belong to God.

Of course, uncomfortableness surrounds death.  Some details are unsure.  But we know death is not the end, because it was not the end for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 

Of course, insecurity surrounds death.  We do not know exactly what it will feel like.  But God’s love of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ensures that the process is not horrible… and it will not be horrible for us, either.

Of course, some unsureness surrounds death.  We have not travelled that path yet.  But Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob walked that way successfully.   All of His children will, too.

Fear not, then live.

Fear Not... Then Examine Yourself

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. (Hebrews 3:12 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Examine Yourself

My lawn mower stopped working last week.  I discovered an important part of the mower that I had been ignoring.  These days, in a zero-turn mower, each of the rear wheels has it’s own transmission.  And while I regularly check the mechanics of the mower deck, the air pressure in the tires, the air intake and exhaust… I did not know that just like older mowers, the wheels are still driven by an old-fashioned belt.

I had never checked THAT belt.

And it broke.

I could avoid responsibility and claim that this breakdown was simply natural decay and the effect of time and friction.  But I should have been checking the drive belt, just like I check the rest of my beloved mower.

A Christian needs to examine ourselves, too.  Maybe we regular check our obvious habits.  Maybe we regularly check the ten commandments.  Maybe we regularly check our words, and our deeds.

But this verse reminds us to check the hidden areas of our heart, too.  Maybe even some of those areas that we are not aware of. 

Some hidden disbelief, when Jesus says, “do not worry.” (Luke 12:29.)  Some hidden disbelief, when you fear Jesus could not possibly keep loving you. (Hebrews 13:5) Some hidden disbelief, when we doubt Jesus REALLY bought our forgiveness. (Psalm 103:12)

Those kinds of disbeliefs are not obvious.  Those kinds of disbeliefs are not necessarily harmful to others.  Those kinds of disbeliefs are often hidden deeply, unnoticed, and ignored.

But they lead us away from God.

Stop it.

Fear not, then examine yourself.

Fear Not... Then Hope

And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (Revelation 21:2 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Hope

My favorite location used to be Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio.  Cedar Point sported the fast roller coaster in the world.  In Cedar Point were the best junk food treats.  Cedar Point included a thrilling mine ride, a gigantic movie screen, interesting gift shops, and an ever changing diorama of small rides, events, and craft displays.

But it was hours and hours away.

To get to Cedar Point, I had to endure carsickness, the heat of summer, intense boredom, and stiff sore muscles. 

But I did not care.  The near-perfection of Cedar Point was a magnet that pulled me through all those troubles with anticipation and excitement.  I probably would have been willing to endure even more!

Cedar Point is a drop in the bucket compared to heaven.  And heaven is where Christ’s people are headed.

The trip there might seem too long or too short.  The road might be slippery, or bumpy, or crossed by chasms.  Our troubles are many, and our pains deep.

But heaven…

The Revelation of John draws on the Biblical picture of the church being the bride of Christ for a good reason.  Because wedding days are often like my trips to Cedar Point.

The steps along the way, particularly on that stressful day, are stressful and difficult.

But the appearance of the bride… the physical presence of love… the fulfilment of all of those hopes that led up to that moment… sometimes takes our breath away.

Heaven is coming like that.

Fear not, then hope.

Fear Not.. Then Gospel

I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. (I Corinthians 9:22-23 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Gospel!

Mountain Man Hugh Glass, having been mauled by a grizzly bear, traveled nearly 200 miles.  Crawling, dragging his maimed body, finding what nourishment and shelter he could, he eventually reached civilization.  Knowing the region he traversed, I can not imagine how he survived.

But he must have been strongly motivated.  He sought revenge on those who had abandoned him.  He was trying to retain precious life.  He was willing to endure due to the importance of his goals.

Paul was also strongly motivated because he understood how precious the gospel of Jesus Christ is.  He writes here that he was even willing to surrender his own plans, his own roles, his own personality if it would help someone find the hope of the gospel.  He was willing to become whatever was needed, if it would point to faith in Christ.

This is hard for modern folks to accept.  I like my personality, mostly.  I have worked hard for my position.  I protect my rights, my possessions, my relationships, and my worldview.  But Paul says the gospel is more than all of those things.

Another result of Paul’s challenge is context for my suffering.  If God is giving me difficulties so that those very difficulties point someone to Jesus, shouldn’t that be worth it?  If God is holding back some blessing that I think I deserve so that somehow someone notices Jesus, shouldn’t that be worth it?  If things are not going my way because God is taking me a different way because on that path is someone who needs to find Jesus, shouldn’t that be worth it?

Rather than fear those things that appear so dark, shouldn’t we see the darkness as a way to bring Christ’s light?

Fear not, then the gospel.

Fear Not... Then the Cross

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (I Corinthians 1:18 ESV)

Fear Not… Then the Cross

I used to laugh at people who used old tea bags to sooth sunburn.  Then I discovered it works.  I used to laugh at old folks who budgeted down to the penny.  Then I discovered that it works.  I used to laugh at attic fans, ceiling fans, and window fans.  Then I discovered they work.

There is a lot of stuff I laugh at, that maybe I shouldn’t.

Outsiders laugh at Christianity. 

Much of the university system thinks the idea of God is goofy.  Our governments seem hellbent on destroying or obscuring Christ’s church.  Christians are portrayed in the entertainment industry as fools, hypocrites, or idiots.

Outsiders laugh at Christianity… and maybe that makes you insecure.  Maybe it makes you doubt the work of Christ.  Maybe it makes you afraid that the majority is correct.

Outsiders laugh at Christianity… but they shouldn’t.

Because those who laugh are perishing.  But we are being saved.

Fear not… then the cross.

Fear Not... Then Temple Up

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. (I Corinthians 3:16,17 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Temple Up

Ted Kidder was my best friend’s cousin.  Not a close relationship, I realize… but it was enough for me to leverage as a defense against bullies in high school.  I was mostly bookish, not athletic, and a bit sarcastic.  Those things normally would have painted a target on my back, yes?

But I was defended by the ominous presence of Ted Kidder.  Ted talked to me at parties.  Ted lumped me together with his cousin. Ted once gave me a ride after school.  Everyone saw him greet me warmly.  Everyone saw him let me drive his car out of the parking lot.

And Ted Kidder had a Black Belt in karate, or some sort of martial art.  I really don’t remember.

But everyone assumed that the wrath of Ted Kidder would come upon them if they gave me trouble.

I am not really sure Ted would have cared one bit if someone picked on me.

But I have a better defender.  Because my relationship with God is much more real than merely being my best friend’s cousin.

In fact, God thinks enough of me that He says I am His temple!

Not because I am temple-like.  But because Christ in me, is.

What do I have to fear?  God dwells here.  What do I have to fear? God is home with me.  What do I have to fear? God defends His temple.

And if you are a Christian, you are His temple, too.

Fear Not… Then Temple up.

Fear Not... Then Depend

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:1,2 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Depend on God

Those who live for a while on the International Space Station tell of a strange absence of fear up there in their tin can in a vacuum.  We would expect them to be a little nervous.  But because the station is still relatively small, they are able to continuously notice certain safety features of their habitat.

Some find comfort in the regularly placed oxygen containers, like scuba tanks.  It is not true that exposure to space instantly brings death.  And those breathing apparatus are reminders of help in the event of a breach.

Some find comfort in the constant hum of machinery.  The ISS is engineered with backups, backups, and backups.  If something breaks down, other machines are ready to take over, and are actually probably already running.  Those soft sounds are reminders of help in the event of Murphy’s Law manifestations.

Some find comfort in the other experts inhabiting the station.  Residents are chosen because of expertise in a number of fields.  If the unexpected happens, someone probably has knowledge and experience to weather the crisis.  Those companions are reminders of potential solutions to unforeseen problems.

The Israelites living near Jerusalem could see the mountains of that city, particular the Temple Mount.  It is visible from nearly anywhere in the general vicinity of the Holy City.  And that Temple Mount was a reminder of God’s presence and God’s help.

We pretend that we are independent.  But we are not.  We are dependent upon the one true King.  We are dependent upon the God who created the universe.  We are dependent upon our Redeemer.  We are dependent upon the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

While we can not see the Temple Mount, all around us are reminders of God’s help.  The Christian community reminds us of others’ stories of help.  Creation reminds us of God’s power, ready to help.  And certainly His Word reminds us in clear, reliable, and dependable promises of help.

Fear Not… Then Depend.