Facing Our Fears

There is a healthy kind of fear that keeps us from acting carelessly and wrecking our lives and relationships. Then there are the paralyzing fears that keep us from taking the risks necessary to make a living. These last fears can keep us in bondage and are the ones the Bible commands us to not give in to.

My friend Kurt was an insurance adjuster for about 10 years. One day he received a call from a customer who had a fire in his business. Because the owner was not able to be there at his arrival, the customer made sure the building was unlocked so Kurt could go ahead with the inspection. Now here is Kurt’s story in his own words.

<>It was early November and it gets dark early at that time of year. It was already getting dim by the time I pulled up in front of the building. What’s worse, this building was on the corner of 7th and Looney in Memphis TN. Trust me. That is not a neighborhood you want to be in after dark. But I got out of the car and went to the door. Sure enough it was unlocked so I walked in. THAT’S WHEN THE TROUBLE BEGAN. When I stepped into the reception area I was able to see some smoke residue on the ceiling which told me that the fire had started down the hallway. I decided to get all of my room measurements done before the owner got there so we could talk uninterrupted. I went down the hallway until I came to a door on the right. I stepped into that room to look around. I got a few feet from the entrance and the door closed behind me. Here I was in a room that was almost completely dark. The only illumination was from a small skylight in the center of the room. Rather than risk tripping over some fire debris I decided to wait a minute and let my eyes get adjusted to the dark before I walked back to the door. AND THEN I SAW HIM! Standing about 8 feet in front of me was a large man. I may have just been imagining it but he looked very mean and very ugly to me at that time. Now, I didn’t know why he was in the building, but running into him in this dark room in that part of town made me very nervous. Choking back my fear I said” Excuse me, I am here to check out the fire damage.” He didn’t say a word. I said “Sir, I’m from the insurance company. Can I help you?” Nothing! I took a furtive step backwards and when I did I saw that he took a step in my direction. That was enough for me! I turned and hightailed it towards the door. He was right behind me. I got to the door first and threw it open. When I did, light from the hall flooded into the room! I was able to see that I had been in a large bathroom and there was a mirror that ran the length of the room. That huge, ugly man that scared me to death was just my own reflection.

“When the Israelites saw Goliath, they ran away in terror.”

I Samuel 17:24 GNB

Goliath was large, but even a young boy called David could kill him with a stone from his slingshot. This would have never happened if David would not have faced this giant head on. When David resisted Goliath, the giant fell down dead.

Our natural response to what seems like a Goliath size fear, is (like the Israelites) to run from them. But here are some practical ways to face them and kill them dead.

Consider talking about your fears and worries to someone. When we put our feelings into words, we will find that others share similar emotions as we do. When we bring our fears into the light, (like Kurt did in the story) it diffuses the control that fear has over us.  Next take time to fill your minds with good news. At times we need to turn off the television with hour after hour filled with all the bad news around the entire globe. This can bring more fear and sadness into our home. This could be why God tells us to think on the lovely and good reports in Philippians 4:8.

“So place yourselves under God's authority. Resist the devil,

and he will run away from you.”

James 4:7  GW

We must run away from temptations, but stand and resist the Tempter. Our armor in Ephesians 6 covers our front side, but not our backs.  That is why we need to face our fears instead of running from them. The promise is that those Goliath-like fears will run away if we face them.

Selah….

Al Yoder

2/18/2011

Let's Hear it for the New Covenant!

 I am a little tardy in posting the most recent study notes for the Hebrews study.  For the two people who noticed, my apologies.  We most recently studied chapters seven and eight.  I am finding the time taken to carefully study this epistle to be time very well spent.  This book is all about Jesus.  It is maybe even more weighted toward the person of Jesus than any other part of scripture.  So what could possibly be more satisfying than studying more about the One we love above all others, our Mediator, Prophet, Priest, and King Jesus.  

In chapter seven we plumbed the depths of the mysterious character of Melchizedek and his foreshadowing of Jesus.  We discussed the importance of the complete departure of Jesus' priesthood from the Levitical form, but also the fulfillment of the law brought about by Jesus coming as a priest after the line of Melchizedek.

Chapter eight included a summary of the thoughts of chapter seven and the glorious hope that we have in the new covenant.  The old covenant served its purpose as a tutor and a foreshadowing of heavenly things, but the new covenant is God's everlasting work of redemption for His people through the perfect work of Christ.  I don't think most of us understand the blessing of living under the new covenant.  We certainly need to stop and praise God often for the fact that we are saved forever by the work of Jesus, and I believe much profitable time could be spent in meditation and thanksgiving for the glorious promise under which we live.  How could I keep from singing Your praise. How could I ever say enough, how amazing is Your love.  How could I keep from shouting Your name.  I know I'm loved by the King and it makes my heart want to sing.  (Chris Tomlin)

You can read the study notes by clicking on these two links: Chapter 7 and chapter 8.

Light a Candle

Sitting in a room filled with people, the conversation drifted into idle talk about the awful government we have,   how things are going from bad to worse, how young people today just don’t have a chance in a world like that, prices for gas and groceries are just out of sight, rioting on college campuses, surely Christ is returning in the next few days and months. The year was 1962.  Sounds almost identical to some conversations I heard recently in a group of people that Jesus said are supposed to be the light of the world. I have been amazed at how one person can enter a room and fill it with doom and gloom in a moment’s time. Perhaps I have been more impressed when a room filled with doomsday talking people was suddenly transformed into light and hope by one man’s joyful walk and talk. It was as though we were all in a dark and dingy room when the Light of the world walked in, and suddenly we were immersed in sunshine…or should I have said Son Shine?

 

Luke 11:36 If your whole body is full of light and not darkness, it will be as bright as a lamp shining on you."

Does a room light up when we walk into it, or does it get darker?

Jesus said, “I am come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.” I don’t think about abundant living when listening to complaining and fearful thoughts about life.  I think about lack and poverty and death.  If it’s the goodness of God that leads people to repentance and if we are to be the light of the world…should not we who have the Light of the world living inside us be lighting candles rather than cursing the darkness? Is it possible that we don’t spend enough time letting God’s Word shine in our hearts? Jesus taught that “out of the abundance of the heart…our mouth speaks.”  It’s not so important to watch what we say, as to what we take into our hearts by what we read and listen to and watch.

The Psalms teach us that the Bible is like a lamp shines on our path to let us see where we are going. It’s also helpful to others who are following closely behind us. I thank God for teachers who saw what was, rather than what wasn’t…who saw the glass half full instead of half empty…who proclaimed the “Good News” instead of proclaiming the bad news. May God help us to become candle lighters instead of being candle snuffers.

May we fulfill Jesus command for us to “let our lights shine” by the way we walk and talk. May the computers and rooms and communities and businesses we walk into be transformed as we stop cursing the darkness and begin lighting candles.  Maybe we should light a candle and set it in the room today as a reminder to LIGHT A CANDLE where ever we go.

Selah…

Al Yoder

2/6/2011

Small Acts = Great Rewards

Sometimes we think the only things that are significant are the acts that get public recognition. Perhaps the really gratifying deeds are done with hardly any recognition. An uncle that helped me learn the basics on a guitar, an aunt that took care of me when my parents were out of town, a teacher who gave me a note of affirmation, parents who modeled a life of integrity and a love for God, pastors who sacrificed their time to care for our family, neighbors who picked us up for church, are just a few of the influences that have shaped my own life.

Many years ago I took a little boy fishing.  His father had died of cancer and I felt every boy should have at least one opportunity to go fishing with a father figure. A songwriter wrote, “God speaks best to little boys while their fishing.”  Little could I have dreamed that this little boy Bob would grow up to be a plant manager in a large manufacturing company. At an unplanned meeting I spoke of our son looking for a job. Bob said, “I have never forgotten how you took me fishing as a young boy.  If your son wants a job, all he has to do is come and fill out the paper work...” Our son has now been employed there for almost a decade. There are great rewards that come from very small acts of kindness.

Jesus said, “For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.” (Mark 9:41)

In reading through the book of Ruth in the Bible, I was reminded of this same truth in shoe leather.

  Boaz said to Ruth, “Come over here. Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar.” When she sat down with the harvesters, he offered her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over. (Ruth 2:14 )

At the time of this story, Boaz was a wealthy bachelor farmer with many employees.  One day a young widow came to one of his fields during harvest time to gather the dropped barley into her basket. Ruth was living with her mother in law Naomi who was also a widow. It was during this harvest that Boaz learned how Ruth had left her own parents in Moab to help care for her widowed mother in law here in Bethlehem where she knew no one. He instructed his employees to purposely drop some grains of barley so it would not be so difficult for her to fill her basket. He also told his men not to bother Ruth in any way.  Boaz told Ruth she could drink from their water jugs and eat from his lunch.  He was impressed that this beautiful young widow was not seeking a handsome young man to marry. He ended up marrying Ruth and their first baby boy grew up to become the grandfather of the King David, the second king of Israel.

Never underestimate the power of a small act of kindness. Maybe we should consider baby-sitting a harried mother who needs a few hours off, or writing a short note to a discouraged person who needs a lift, visiting a shut-in who is lonely, or making a call to someone just to show you care.  Who knows the far reaching rewards that will come from that little act of kindness. If no one else does, God does!

Al Yoder

2/3/2011