Fear Not... Then Be Shepherded

For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out.  As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. (Ezekiel 34:11,12 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Be Shepherded

Road construction is the bane of modern travel.  But the absolute worst, often, are pilot cars.  We wait, and wait, and wait for them.  They lead us too swiftly or too slowly.  They look down on us, frowning as eventually we pass them.   They are the personal faces of the sorrow of road construction.

Part of it is, we do not like being told what to do, especially by someone who does not know us.

But there is a Pilot Car leading us.  God’s people are scattered throughout nations, states, cities, communities, businesses, occupations, families, clubs, associations and all manner of groups.  And some of those scattered places are pretty rough. 

God is bringing us back together, though.  Both in heaven, eventually, and on earth, gradually. 

And our Shepherd, Jesus, is leading us.

The road is difficult, painful, and confusing.  But our Shepherd knows the way.  And He is strong.  And He is loving.  And He is trustworthy.  Watching Him ahead of us takes away the reasons for fear on the road.

Thankfully, following the shepherd is not a matter of guessing where He wants us to step.  His Word is filled with guidelines, guidance, and guides.  His Word describes the dangers of the road, the broken paths to avoid, and the well-paved or grassy safety zones.

Fear not, then be shepherded.

Fear Not... Then Be in Christ

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. (Galatians 3:28,29 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Be in Christ

The pendulum swings.

When I was young, we announced our national heritage to show that even though we were one nation, we had some unique qualities.  But today, we seem to announce our heritage to show and prove that we are not really united.  That our differences outweigh our unity.

When I was young, my community noticed hair color, height, weight, and even skin color to show that even though we were all humans, we had some unique qualities.  But today, we seem to notice those differences and find tiny unities in them, instead of holding to the foundational commonality of human nature.

When I was young, we sought fellowship, kindred-spirits, and togetherness, desiring to pull people together.  But today, we seem to favor uniqueness, individuality, and island-living, even in a crowd.

I wonder if these changes come from our claiming the wrong glue for unity.  We looked to citizenship, interests, goals, and familiarity.  We looked to common traits, common likes, and common habits.  We looked to a prideful unity, a powerful unity, and a pleasant unity.

When we should have been listening to Paul.

He says that the unity that counts is unity in Christ.  All other unity-claims are weak and destined for failure.

Jews and Greeks are no longer primary actors on the world stage.  Slaves have found empty freedom, and freefolk are enslaved in bonds of our own making.  Men and Woman strive for dominance and compete for every felt need, desire, or position. 

But Christ remains.

In Paul’s day, as well as in ours, Christ is the umbrella that brings the world together.  Christian men and Christian women are able to know love.  Christian politicians can have a united goal, even if disagreeing on some details.  Christian business owners, employers, employees, and self-employed can all find eternal profit and love-aimed practices and policies.

But it is really less complicated than that. 

Unity appears when Christ is King.

Fear not, then be in Christ.

Fear Not... Then Be Equipment

He said, “Don’t load yourselves up with equipment. Keep it simple; you are the equipment. (Luke 9:3,4 The Message)

Fear Not… Then Be the Equipment

Some jobs have necessary tools.  Dentists need drills.  Farmers need dirt. Teachers need books.  Cooks need ingredients. 

As Jesus sends His closest disciples out into the countryside to bring the Good News, He tells them to make sure they have the right equipment.  But Jesus does not tell them to bring tracts.  He does not load their minds up with memorized arguments.  He does not point them towards 78-inch televisions, power-point presentations, audio and light shows, or auditorium-filling strategies.

Because Jesus knows, that as useful as those things might be… the gospel is brought by people.

Nothing brings Jesus’ hope to the hopeless like YOU describing your hope.  Nothing brings a humble response to Jesus’ power like YOU bowing publicly before King Jesus.  Nothing brings Jesus’ light into dark corners like YOU shining in the midst of worry, fear, sin, and violence.  Nothing brings God’s love to the unlovely like YOU loving extravagantly.

Do you have hope? Then preach the gospel by showing it.  Do you have contentment in Christ? Then preach the gospel by showing it.  Do you have love from and for Jesus?  Then preach the gospel by showing it.

Anything else is fluff.

Fear not, then be the equipment.

Fear Not... Then Enjoy God's Adhectivies

The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you.  (II Corinthians 13:14 The Message)

Fear Not… Then Enjoy God’s Adjectives

I laugh at some of the adjectives, implied or actual, that advertisers use to impress us.  Our laundry, with THIS detergent, will be SUNNY bright.  Our drives, with THIS car will be exhilarating.  Our experience, with THIS product will be unique, unlike anyone else’s.

But perhaps, unwittingly, those advertisers are mimicking God’s Word.

Hidden within the Greek vocabulary of most of Paul’s concluding words in his epistles, are adjectives.

It is not simply grace, it is amazing grace.  It is not simply love, it is extravagant love.  It is not merely fellowship, it is intimate fellowship.

These adjectives are hidden because the nouns grace, love, and fellowship are also used in common situations.  But God’s grace, God’s love, and God’s fellowship are exponentially more than any of our graces, loves, and fellowships.

And I am glad.

Because our grace becomes tainted, untrue, and weak… but God’s does not.  Because our love fails, turns sour, and drifts into selfishness… but God’s does not.  Because our fellowship becomes self-directed, entertainment oriented, and dull… but God’s does not.   

God’s relationship with us, secured and held fast by Christ’s bloody sacrifice, is the ideal that we yearn for in all of our relationships.  But our efforts fall short.  Sometimes we avoid deep relationships, in fact, because they haven’t turned out as we’d hoped, on both the giving and receiving sides.

When that happens, remember that there IS amazing grace, extravagant love, and intimate fellowship.

All in Jesus’ arms.

Fear not, then enjoy God’s adjectives.

Fear Not... Then Soldier On

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. (II Timothy 2:3 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Soldier On

I would not make a good soldier, sailor, or marine.  I enjoy my comfort too much.  I would ask the sergeant why the air conditioning in the tent was not working.  I would wonder at the absence of my daily dose of Diet Coke.  I would expect a rest every few hundred yards during the hike.

But I can understand that a willingness to suffer for a cause is a necessary quality for a soldier.

A soldier needs a willingness to put off comfort, to postpone reward, to endure pains small and large… all for the cause. 

Paul tells Timothy that serving Christ requires that, too.  Because we are soldiers of our King, Jesus. 

And just like an earthly soldier, we know Christ’s cause is higher than our personal desires, wants, and comforts.  Just like an earthly soldier, we know that our rest, our reward, our peace will arrive later, and will be grand.  Just like an earthly soldier, we are willing to put up with struggles, trials, pains, and sorrows. 

Because Jesus did.

Because Jesus expects us to.

Because Jesus asks us to.

Because we love Jesus.

Fear not, then soldier on.

Fear Not... Then Be Jealoused

Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath (Zechariah 8:2 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Be Jealoused

Until seventh grade, I was usually picked last for playground sports.  Uncoordinated, and disinterested Tommy did not make for a valuable member of sports-ball teams… whether football, basketball, kickball, baseball, or dodgeball.

But something happened in the seventh grade.  I had a new friend.

And even though John was no more interested in my sports-skills than anyone else was, he was committed to me.  He was interested in my emotional well-being.  He did not like it when others made fun of me, belittled me, or ignored me.  So, John worked on my behalf.  I never made it to first choice… but middle-pickings weren’t bad.

It was nice.

While I would not go so far as to say John was jealous for me, with even a small wrath… my experience helps me understand Zechariah’s words.

Not because I am skillful, or wise, or knowledgeable… but simply and profoundly because Jesus chose to love me, the created universe tends to be on my side.  It does not choose me last.  It does not make fun of me, belittle me, or ignore me.  Not in any true way that matters.

But God, the One True God, the Loving God is jealous for me. 

Old habits stop me from noticing… my selfish demand for MORE of God’s jealousy on my behalf makes me blind… my  immaturity still drives me to want to be picked FIRST…

But He is jealous for me, a part of His Zion.

What else do I need?

Fear not, then be jealoused.

Fear Not... Then Be God's People

And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are My people’; and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’ ” (Zechariah 13:9 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Be God’s People

I do not know exactly what God is doing to America lately.  But we do not need to know.  Because He is not first and foremost doing anything to America.  He has something else in mind.

Because Zechariah is actually describing what God is doing to His people, the church.  In recent years, we might have gotten our labels mixed up.  Rather than call ourselves Christians who are Americans… our disposition has become to call ourselves Americans who are Christians.  We do this inappropriately in many areas.  We call ourselves  Men or Women who are christians rather than Christian men or women.  We call ourselves Farmers, or Doctors, or Teachers who are christians, rather than Christians who are farmers, or doctors, or teachers.  We call ourselves Conservative or Liberal christians, rather than Christians who are conservative or liberal.

The heat and stress of our present culture is indeed like a refining fire.  But God tells us that the purpose of that fire is to drive us to call repeatedly on His name, and to declare ourselves His people.  His people first.  His people primarily.  His people definitively. 

All those other labels are dross.  The junk that gets burned away in a refining fire.

Fear Not… Then Be God’s People.

Fear Not... Then Follow the Shepherd

Therefore the people wander like sheep; they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd. [1] (Zechariah 10:2 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Follow the Shepherd

The US Armed Forces, in the years of the Cold War, had a plan.  If our forces ever engaged the Soviet forces, we were instructed to concentrate fire at the tanks with the largest antennae.  Because those tanks housed the Soviet Commanders.

Our side expected that if we could take out their leadership, they would wander like sheep.

It probably would have worked.

Maybe it seems like we have lost our leadership, whether in terms of the government, the church, or the family.  Our leaders are falling, displaying clay feet.  Our leaders are falling, displayed in poor decisions.  Our leaders are falling, as they display more selfishness than servants’ hearts.

But while that makes life frustrating, it should not really be a problem.

Because the State, Church, and Family leaders are not our shepherds.

We have one Shepherd and He does not fail us.

If we wander, it is because we have been following the wrong shepherd.  If we worry, it is because we have been following the wrong shepherd.  If we are afraid, it is because we have been following the wrong shepherd. 

Fear not, then follow the Shepherd.

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Zec 10:2). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Fear Not... Then Faith

“Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.  (Habakkuk 2:4 ESV)

 Fear Not… Then Faith

I recently dreamt that I had to perform brain surgery on a friend.  Dream circumstances conspired to make such surgery an absolute necessity, but my dream did not provide me with brain surgery skills.  I knelt next to my brain-damaged friend with a scalpel in my hand and looked at the X on his forehead.

And I was afraid.

A lot of fear comes from our awareness that we have things we must do, that are outside of our ability.  Probably not brain surgery, but we find ourselves in that situation frequently.  And it brings us fear.

Even more afraid of brain surgery, I might be afraid of death… or my sins’ effects on everything… or my ability to overcome sin.  I might not be facing an X with a scalpel, but death, sins’ effects, and sin itself are more beyond my control than I usually like to admit.

And that is where Habakkuk applies faith.  We can not handle those things.  But faith connects us to the One who not only can, but He has.

It takes humility to admit we can not do it… and faith is the path to humility.  It takes trust to let Jesus repave the rocky road to death… and faith is the path to trust.  It takes knowledge to understand how Jesus solves sin, sins’ effects, and death… and faith is the path to knowledge.

Fear not, then faith.

Fear Not... Then Trust Christ's Victory

God has restored the Pride of Jacob, the Pride of Israel. (Nahum 2:2 The Message)

Fear Not… Then Trust Christ’s Victory

When we listen to modern news today, it is easy to be discouraged.  Bad news on the doorstep… Christ’s name seems to be trampled underfoot more than lifted on high.  Not only has public righteousness faltered, but any desire for righteousness is almost non-existent. 

But Nahum wrote what the result of Christ’s life, death, and life would be.  The people of God (in Old Testament terms, Jacob and Israel… in New Testament terms, the Church) have been restored to God’s side.

That is the pride of which Nahum speaks.

As the people of Jerusalem, even with their many faults, were restored to their home after their exile, the church, even with her many faults, was restored to God’s favor.  And we, even with our sins, have been restored to the Father, too.

It is not something that is in our future.  Christ already did it.

We might think that His victory is hard to see, today.  But it is truly right in front of our eyes, beside our ears, and in our hearts. 

It is really not the Media’s fault.  It is really not the Education System’s fault.  It is really not Satan’s fault.  It is really not the OTHER political party’s fault.

It is our fault.  We choose to believe the announcements of the Christ and His Church’s demise instead of listening to Nahum, and the other 65 books of the Bible, ALL of which proclaim Christ’s Victory!

We let our senses detect troubles rather than cling to His solution.  We let our senses see darkness rather than be constantly aware of His Light.  We fear, rather than rejoice in His victory over sin, rebellion, and sorrow.

Fear not, then trust Christ’s victory.

Fear Not... Then Embrace Change

Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah. She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.   (Genesis 25:1,2 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Embrace Change

Abraham and Sarah were a couple, from way back in the Abram and Sarai days.  They were together for decades.  They stuck together through danger, disappointment, and delight.

When Sarah died, Abraham might have desired to remain single.  God had already kept His promise of a child… remarrying is a complex pleasure at any age, let alone Abraham’s 140 years.  I could imagine Abraham resisting another family… holding onto the past blessings… and saying, “what was should always remain.”

But Abraham married Keturah.  We do not know their love story.  We do not know where they met, how the met, or even what their reasons for marriage were.

But we can see the results.  Six more children.  Six more paths to starlike numbers.  Six more foundations for offspring like the sand on a beach. 

Abraham’s willingness to change does not mean that all change is automatically good.  But often we are so comfortable with God’s past blessings that we seem unwilling to expect and enjoy more.

Fear not, then embrace change.

Fear Not... Then Use God's Tools

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. (II Corinthians 10:3,4 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Use God’s Tools

I worked at a small electro-plating factory.  Our boss believed that while our goal WAS to produce quality products, we needed to produce using righteous methods.

Who would have thought that electro-plating had righteous methods?

But it did.  Competing factories used shortcuts in purchasing chemicals, production line standards, and employee relationships.  Those competing factories could often enter a lower bid than our factory.  But our boss stood firm.

He taught me that results are not the only measuring stick of a ‘good’ company.  Methodology matters, too.  Righteous methodology is not always easy to determine, let alone manifest.  But careful Biblical thinking will lead us to honesty in purchasing resources, doing all things to the best of our ability, and loving relationships with customers, suppliers, and employees.

Paul was not primarily writing about electro-plating factories.  But he was pointing out that living as Christians involves more than being Biblically goal-oriented.  We have the opportunity to also be Biblically process-oriented.

Satan’s tools often produce successful results.  Lying can give us what we want.  Spreading rumors can make us momentarily popular.  Shaving time off hourly work can give us rest and relaxation.  But those aren’t God’s tools.

Honesty might hurt financially, but God enjoys our honesty.  Speaking only lovely things might not be always fun, but God enjoys our careful use of words.  Working as we’re paid to work might make us tired, but God enjoys our honest stewardship of minutes, as well as hours.

Cutting corners and taking shortcuts are usually the result of fear.  We fear unsatisfactory results more than we desire to honor God.  We fear financial difficulty more than we desire to honor God.  We fear gaining an odd reputation more than we desire to honor God.

But honoring God abolishes the need for those fears.

Fear not, then use God’s tools.

Fear Not... Then No Secrets

No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a washtub or shoves it under the bed. No, you set it up on a lamp stand so those who enter the room can see their way. We’re not keeping secrets; we’re telling them. We’re not hiding things; we’re bringing everything out into the open. (Luke 8:16, 17 The Message)

Fear Not… Then No Secrets

As a Boy Scout Honor Guard at Fort Mackinac, I packed a lot of delightful treats.  My duffle bag was filled with home made cookies, venison jerky, tasty potato chips, and succulent fruit.  And less healthy more exciting things like hard candy, candy bars, and fudge.  I divvied it out according to my schedule… having decided exactly what treats to eat after lights out.

I also packed comic books to read, magic tricks to practice, and small fossils to analyze.  Not knowing most of the other Scouts, I prepared to fill all of my free time with personal fun activities.

On the last day, I made a friend.  My age, this guy liked all the same things I did.  We discovered our connection as I was cleaning up the remains of my stash.  He saw some of my wrappers and blinked his eyes.  Like mine, these were some of his favorite foods, hobbies, and time-wasters.

We were both a little sad… but I was mostly disappointed in myself.  I had wealth, but instead of spreading good things, I kept them to myself.  I had joy-producers, but instead of spreading that joy, I kept it to myself.  I had relationship-builders, but I kept them as my own.

This is what James is talking about, regarding our best treasure.  We were given the light of our salvation so that others can find illumination.  We were given eternal life so that others can leave death’s grip.  We were given the Way so that others can become unlost.

It is interesting, and hopeful, that James doesn’t command us to show our lights.  He nearly assumes we just are.  Just like no one, he says, hides a candle at night, we do not hide our heavenly gifts.

Is he right?

Many years ago, as a youth group silly activity, we staged a fake trial in which we had to provide evidence from our lives that we were Christ’s people.  We found we had a lot of lights hidden under beds.

Why are we light-hiders?  Maybe we tire of negative social reaction.  Maybe we are nervous about preachy conversations.  Maybe we do not like to make waves.  Or maybe, underlying all of these, we have forgotten how wonderful the light has been for us, in the dark.

Fear not, then no secrets.

Fear Not... Then Get Personal

And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” (Luke 5:10b ESV)

FEAR NOT… THEN GET PERSONAL

Simon Peter was afraid because Jesus had just given him more fish than he had likely ever caught.  He suddenly knew, practically, that this Jesus was more than merely a wise teacher.  He was the Son of God.

And I do not really know what went through Peter’s mind.  Maybe he was intimated by the wealth that increased fishing would bring him.  Maybe he was worried that he might say something stupid, or act thoughtlessly, or even publicly deny that this really WAS the Messiah.  Maybe he was overwhelmed with an awareness of exactly Who stood next to Peter.

But Jesus put it in perspective.  Jesus had not been born in Bethlehem to impress Peter’s customers.  Jesus had not left heaven, and gotten his holy feet dirty on the Judean roads to make it into the Guinness Book of Records.  Jesus had not chosen Peter and the twelve to make sure their names would be written on some historical plaque. 

Jesus came to save lives, for eternity.

If Peter was going to be afraid, maybe that would be a reason.  Souls are more important than Perch.  Souls are more important than cheers.  Souls are more important than headlines.

Whatever we find ourselves daily doing for the Kingdom of God, in the Kingdom of God, as the Kingdom of God, do not be distracted by the fish.  By the amazing coincidences Jesus enacts.  By the surprising wonders He shines at us.

Instead, it is all about people.

Fear not, then get personal.

Fear Not... By Not Blaming God

O my people, what have I done to you? How have I wearied you? Answer me! (Micah 6:3 ESV)

Fear Not… By Not Blaming God

When my guitar strings start to regularly go out of tune, I display an attitude much like the people that God is speaking to through Micah.  I blame something else.  I blame my out-of-tune strings on the weather, on poor craftmanship, on the effects of Adam’s Sin, and I might even suspect some vandal’s sneaky turning of the tuning keys while I was away.

But the strings usually go out of tune because I did not clean them, keep them tuned, or replace them at the right time.

And Micah’s audience was blaming God for the troubles in their lives.  Because He is in charge, right?

But their economic woes were due to their breaking of God’s commandments.

The decay of their families was due to their breaking of God’s commandments.

The enemies ready to gather at their gates where there because God’s people had broken God’s commandments.

Yet this story is not primarily in the Bible to drive us to try harder to obey.  Micah speaks to urge his listeners to take responsibility, yes… but more importantly to lovingly turn to God again, knowing that we need His grace and mercy.

If our help is on our shoulders, we’ll still be in trouble tomorrow.  But if our help is in the hands of the Lord, then our hope is real.

When I ask, now, what actions we have done to cause our troubles, I ask for the same reason.  Know your troubles, know your cause… and turn your eyes upon Jesus.

Fear not, then do not blame God.

Fear Not... Then Listen

After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” (Genesis 22:1 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Listen

What does it mean to listen? Our star quarterback thought he had a great idea.  From his perspective, he thought a long pass to our sticky-fingered receiver would win the game.  In the huddle, he cajoled, argued, and almost shouted.  We had only a few moments before the play needed to begin, so I just said, “Nope… short fake pass and run the ball yourself.”

“You aren’t listening!” he uttered.

And I smiled.  Because I understood what he meant.  But he actually had it backwards.  He, like many of us, misunderstand what it means to listen.  We think it means to agree with what we hear… and no, I did not agree.  We think it means understanding the brilliance of the words… and no, I didn’t see the light.  We think it means to be persuaded… and no, I was not.

Because in that moment, I knew more than the quarterback did.  I had been watching the defense’s patterns.  And I was sure that there would be no defenders right where our receiver would be trying to catch the ball.

There were a lot of nuances of listening on the field that day.  But the quarterback truly did not listen to me.  At least not in the way that Abraham did.

Abraham did not check his schedule before saying, “here I am.”  Abraham did not evaluate the probable success of God’s proposed action before Abraham obeyed.  Abraham did not argue, cajole, or beg… he just said, “here I am.”

And he did what God asked of him.

The story centers around God’s strange command to Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, his only son.  I wonder if I would have listened like Abraham, or non-listened like my quarterback.

The story’s key moment is when God observes, “HE feared not because he chose to LISTEN first. Now I know how fearlessly you fear God.”  (Genesis 22:12 The Message)

Fear not, then listen.

Fear Not... Then Stick to Scripture

Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. (I Timothy 4:7 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Stick to Scripture

He seemed so very, very smart.  He had the look of a super-chess player, and I was losing an important chess game.  I had a choice to make… and one onlooker stage-whispered a suggestion. 

His idea was obviously unwise.  It went against every standard principle of chess-play.  But… what if… just maybe… I would receive accolades and cheers if it worked!

I ran through the primary well-known chess concepts.  His idea broke them all.  But… what if… just maybe… I would look AMAZING if it worked! 

So, I did it.  I moved my knight over there, instead of moving my pawn where it needed to go.

And I lost the game.  Amidst snickers, rolled eyes, and the awful scratch of chalk on the leader-board scratching out my name.

In the midst of crises, when our situation seems dire or at least important, we are often tempted to listen to the whisperers.  Selfish motivation crowds out Christ’s commands to love.  Severe insecurities outweigh God’s claims of sovereignty.  Well-educated political commentators seem louder than Jesus’ claim of Kingship.

Do not listen to those silly myths.

Fear not, then stick to scripture.

Fear Not... Then Pray

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, (I Timothy 2:1-3 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Pray

I was recently reading a novel about young King Arthur.  In the middle of an exciting dramatic moment, Arthur sought counsel from three friends concerning three difficult decisions.  Arthur was deciding about military strategy, about romance, and about his future.  The first advice he received from his friends in all three areas was: pray.

It surprised me because folk today do not pray like that.  We pray as a last resort.  Or we pray out of panic.  Or we pray when the crisis is done.

But Arthur’s friends tell him simply to pray.

I wonder if the novel’s author had this verse in mind.  Rather than begin by complaining about unjust government, first pray.  Rather than plot and plan to create success in our lives, first pray.  Rather than come into the arena of social interaction with both fists swinging, first pray.

Paul says this pleases God.  I’d like to please God…

Fear not, then pray.

Fear Not... Then Be a Loer

“On that great day,” God says,

                “I will round up all the hurt and homeless,

                everyone I have bruised or banished.

                I will transform the battered into a company of the elite.

                I will make a strong nation out of the long lost,

                A showcase exhibit of God’s rule in action,

                as I rule from Mount Zion, from here to eternity. (Micah 4:6,7 The Message)

Fear Not… Then Be a Loser

We try so hard to win.  It is a part of our American Psyche.  Most of us are driven to win, to succeed, to accomplish great things, to be popular, to be winners.

But Micah paints a different goal.

Those who focus on living for Jesus often find themselves less concerned with winning.  The generosity of loving is usually sacrificial.  “Turning the other cheek” usually loses social position.  Living for Jesus usually effects our time-management, our social interactions, and our checkbook balances.

Maybe that is discouraging.  Maybe it leads to fear.

But Micah points out that God has plans for us losers.

We’re going to be on the winning side for eternity.  In fact, we already are.

Fear not, then be a loser.

Fear Not... Then Plant a Tree

Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beer-sheba and worshiped God there, praying to the Eternal God. Abraham lived in Philistine country for a long time. (Genesis 21:33, 34 The Message.)

Fear Not.. Then Plant a Tree

Abraham endured a lot of difficulties.  From God’s calling him to a second career, a nomad… through nearly constant political conflicts… and of course family problems, economic problems, military problems, and decades of waiting… Abraham did not have an easy life.

At one point in his story, he finally made peace with the king who was ruling exactly where Abraham knew God wanted Abe to live.  It appeared that Abraham was going to have to struggle to even plant a single root in the Promised Land.

But suddenly, inexplicably, God gave Abraham peace.  An unexpected treaty enabled the King and Abraham to co-exist.

And Abraham could relax. 

So Abraham planted a tamarisk tree.  This type of tree endured harsh weather, required little upkeep, and was tough.  And from then on, when Abraham passed that tree, He remembered God’s work in his life.

God enabled Abraham to endure the harshest circumstances.  God gave Abraham the nourishment he needed.  God gave Abraham strength, protection, and backbone.

We should plant trees like that.  Maybe an evergreen to remind us that God’s blessings never dry up.  Maybe a maple tree to remind us that life in Jesus is sweet.  Maybe a hedge apple tree to remind us that God is tougher than ANY of our problems.

Fear not, then plant a tree.