You Can Be Fearless

 

[Jesus] said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

Matthew 8:26

As the story goes (Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, Luke 8:22-25), the disciples had plenty of cause to be afraid:

• They were quietly making their way across the Sea of Galilee when, out of nowhere, this huge storm blew in.
• The wind-swept waves were crashing over the sides, swamping the vessel.
• Their beloved leader seemed so unconcerned that he was actually taking a nap in the back of the soon-to-be-sinking boat.

But I have a different question: Why did Jesus say they had little faith? What does their faith have to do with being fearful when in mortal danger?

The answer is in Mark 4:35 and Luke 8:22. Before they even started, Jesus said, "Let's go over to the other side." If Jesus says your little group is going to the other side, you're going to make it to the other side. (And I'm pretty sure Jesus didn't mean the bottom side.)

And what about you? Why are you afraid?

• Waiting for the biopsy results
• Heading to a job interview
• Wondering if anyone will ever love you
• Questioning if you'll be able to retire

Jesus has a word for you today: "Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth is...Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. (Psalm 121:4 NLT)

@!#$%!!

 

If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, his religion is useless and he deceives himself.

James 1:26

A few years ago (or maybe it was several years ago; at this point of my life I have trouble knowing the difference), I got involved in an online discussion about whether Jesus ever swore.

You know...foul language...four-letter words...cussing.

I stood firmly in the camp that said, "No way! 'Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth' and all that."

The opposing view argued that Jesus, while being the Son of God, was also fully human, dealing with people who didn't understand him. So of course, they thought, he used gritty language to express himself or vent his emotions.

Inherent in this line of reasoning was the belief that "dirty words" are not a sin anyway. That, of course, led to a completely different tangent that left me a little deflated because, after all, I cannot explain why certain words are on The Naughty List while other words, referring to the exact same bodily functions (or whatever), are perfectly acceptable in polite society.

The good news is that we don't need to solve that riddle right now, because I don't think that's what James is talking about in this verse anyway. Take a look at how he expands on the thought two chapters later:

We all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.

But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.

People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! (James 3:2-10 NLT)

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth is...It is not so much our word choice, but the intended result of our words that reveals our character and the extent to which we are allowing the Holy Spirit to affect our human nature.

 

To Be Honest With You...

 

He who gives an honest answer gives a kiss on the lips.

Proverbs 24:26

In the 1990 motion picture Pretty Woman, the prostitute played by Julia Roberts refused to kiss her clients on the lips because it was "too personal." There was a line of vulnerability and true intimacy (as opposed to, in her mind, simple sexuality) that was not to be crossed.

In a world of political spins and publicist reframings, hearing someone plainly answer a sincere question can be just as surprising and impactful as a tender, heartfelt kiss on the lips. It can open a world of respectful communication...a world greatly different from the norms of today.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth is...the foundation of all meaningful relationships.

The Final Act Has a Very Boring Opening Scene

 

Just as it was in the days of Noah,
so it will be in the days of the Son of Man.

Luke 17:26

Plenty of people are plenty curious about what it's going to be like when Jesus returns to Earth. This verse gives us a pretty good idea.

And if there's any doubt about what Jesus meant by "as it was in the days of Noah, Jesus elaborates in verse 27:

People went on eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage until the day Noah boarded the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.

In other words, most people will be going about their normal day-to-day lives with no idea whatsoever that it's all about to come to an end.

The next two verses double down on the same thought:

It will be the same as it was in the days of Lot: People went on eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building. But on the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth is...If you're looking for something specific to give you fair warning that the end of time is about to happen, prepare to be disappointed. Better to be like Noah and Lot and obediently carry out whatever task God sets before you. Then let the clock stop whenever it wants.

With Great Truth Comes Great Responsibility

 

 

For if we deliberately go on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.

Hebrews 10:26

I've got good news and bad news.

The good news is that, even though "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) and "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23), "the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (also Romans 6:23).

In other words, every human being on Planet Earth deserves to die because of their insistence on doing things their own way, for their own benefit, regardless of God's clear standards.

That may sound like bad news, and it is, all by itself. But what turns it into good news is that the death and resurrection of Jesus pays sin's wages on our behalf and frees us up to have life with a capital L (John 10:10).

"What about that bad news you said you had?"

Yeah, about that...

Just because my sins are forgiven doesn't mean I can go on living life my way, gleefully indulging in my favorite infractions.

Paul put it this way: "What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?" (Romans 6:1-2)

How indeed?

How can I see that my sin led to Jesus' death and then just go on enjoying that sin? It's as if the crucifixion never happened. (And that is certainly bad news.)

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth is...Nobody is perfect, even after calling Jesus Lord and becoming his follower. But there's a difference between "Oops, I Did It Again," and "I've Got Friends in Low Places."

Who Do You See in the Mirror?

 

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.
Galatians 3:26 (NIV)

The older I get, the more I look like my dad.

That's not just my opinion. I've had that truth declared to me by men who used to sit in the front row of the church with him when they were all deacons.

And I see it, too. The oval-shaped face, the slightly curved shoulders...even a case of furniture disease ("Where your chest has dropped down into your drawers").

But you know what? I'm not Clarence Roth's child because I look like him. I look like him because I'm his child.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth Is...It's the same way with being a child of God. No amount of Doing Good or Living Right will make me a member of the royal family. But because I believe Yahweh when he says he loves me enough to die in my place, I find myself, the older I get, looking more and more like Jesus...allowing the Holy Spirit to guide me into doing good and living right.

When Mob Rule Bent the Rules

 

Then [Pilate] released Barabbas to them and, after having Jesus flogged, handed him over to be crucified.

Matthew 27:26

Let's think about this scene a little. More than it being the story of Barabbas gaining his freedom, it's about the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, abdicating all authority to those he was placed in charge of.

His wife had warned him to have nothing to do with the rabbi from Nazareth, and his own interrogation of the prisoner confirmed that Jesus had committed no capital offence. And yet...

He tried as hard as he could to let Jesus go free, even offering him as the traditional Passover prisoner release. And yet...

He had Jesus beaten to within an inch of his life, something not usually done in connection with a crucifixion, in hopes of gaining sympathy for him from the crowd. And yet...

The crowd chanted. The crowd threatened to report Pilate to Caesar.

The crowd prevailed.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth is...The majority is not always right.

The Case of the Unstumpable Savior

 

They were not able to catch [Jesus] in what he said in public, and being amazed at his answer, they became silent.

Luke 20:26

The religious leaders at the time of Christ weren't all that excited about Jesus walking around gaining followers and respect. In fact, they wanted him to stop.

They figured if they could just get Jesus to say something blatantly false or ridiculously stupid or undeniably blasphemous, his reputation would be wrecked, and his followers would come back to viewing them as the real authorities.

The only problem is that their religious riddles and verbal traps never fooled Jesus. He saw them for what they were and responded with such deftness and aplomb that even Jesus' detractors were left speechless.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth Is...Trying to catch Jesus off-guard is like waiting for a square to have three sides or trying to smell the color nine.

Horticultural Advice from the Messiah

 

When the plants sprouted and produced grain, then the weeds also appeared.

Matthew 13:26

This verse is in the middle of a parable Jesus told comparing the Kingdom to a field containing both good seed and weeds. The landowner's servants suggested going into the field and pulling out all the weeds, but that plan was rejected for fear of damaging the good crop while attempting to get rid of the bad.

In Jesus' words, “‘No,’ he said. ‘When you pull up the weeds, you might also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I’ll tell the reapers: Gather the weeds first and tie them in bundles to burn them, but collect the wheat in my barn.’”

Leaning into the obvious interpretation that "the harvest" represents the end of time / the second coming of Christ / the final judgement, let me make two observations:

     1. This calls into question all the speculations about a "rapture" where God's people get taken away and the unsaved folks get left behind.

But more importantly...

     2. It seems that when it comes to determining what (i.e., who) is a weed or part of the good crop, God's intention is for it to be done at the end of all things by the harvesters, not in the midst of the growing season by the plants themselves.

In other words, while I certainly am called to be discerning about what advice I take or whose example I follow, it is never my job to say, "You're in. You're out." Plenty of plants and weeds look alike when they're growing. It's only later on, when fruit is produced, that you can really be sure.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth is...The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

What the Old Guys in the Front Row Knew

Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled.

John 6:26

In my growing-up years, I spent Sunday mornings in the second pew from the front, seated behind a row of old, big-eared deacons who were waiting to serve communion and take up the offering. I sang the hymns, listened to the sermons, and never passed notes or whispered to my friends.

When I became a teenager, I started wishing for something more than ancient songs and sitting quietly. I started looking for a faith that expressed itself in more exciting ways. And I soon found a group of friends who wanted the same.

It started with the attitude of "Jesus loves us and died for us. Isn't that worth getting excited about?" It didn't take long, though, before excitement alone wasn't enough. We started evaluating musical skills and speaking abilities to determine where to be involved.

One day, it hit me. Those old guys on the front row didn't need the latest musical style or the hippest graphics to keep them interested in Jesus. They faithfully served for decades because the gospel is true and God deserves to be honored.

To bring it back to John 6, they weren't looking for a free meal, they were sitting at the feet of The Teacher.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth is...It is worth considering whether I am seeking God, or seeking blessings from God.

 

Tiny Creatures, Big Wisdom

 

Hyraxes are creatures of little power,

yet they make their home in the crags

Proverbs 30:26

Right off the bat, let's get something straight. On my own, I've got absolutely no idea what a hyrax is...other than the antlers of a notably tall elk, perhaps.

The King James Version calls them coneys, which, of course, is a particular style of chili dog.

The Amplified Bible doesn't even translate the word, but anglicizes it to shephanim and defines them as "small, shy, furry animals (Hyrax syriacus) found in the peninsula of the Sinai, northern Israel, and in the region around the Dead Sea."

None of which is really all that important.

There's a greater point being made than Solomon's mastery of wildlife identification.

This verse is second in a list of four creatures that are small in stature but exceedingly wise:

• The ant, who stores food for itself
• The hyrax, who dwells in the safety of a rock-solid domicile
• Locusts, who never travel alone
• Lizards, who are small enough to hold in your hand, but they live in kings' palaces.

So...what's that greater point I mentioned?

If you think you are disadvantaged compared to others who have a bigger influence or a healthier body or a larger bank account...stop fretting. Yahweh provides for your well-being and intends the very best for you.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth Is...Consider how the wildflowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you  -  you of little faith!
-  Luke 12:27-28

Linus and the Half-Shined Shoes

 

Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

Matthew 23:26

Oddly enough, Jesus didn't have a very good relationship with the Pharisees of his day, even though they were well-known for being experts in the law and very particular about following every little detail.

This verse is in the middle of seven "woe to you" statements by Jesus against the Pharisees and it reminds me of a set of panels from the Charles Schulz comic strip, Peanuts:

Jesus used the metaphor of a half-cleaned cup to emphasize that it's not a person's public persona or image that matters, but the content of their character. If the whole shoe doesn't shine, what's the point?

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth Is...It's not about keeping up appearances as much as it's allowing Jesus to raise up within us a factory of faithfulness.

We're Gonna Rock This Town

 

Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose.

Acts 16:26

This verse comes in the middle of an amazing story, and has nothing to do with God answering prayer.

Paul and Silas had freed a slave girl from demon possession. Her owner (who was using her to "tell fortunes") was upset about losing his source of income, so he dragged them into the town square and trumped up some charges against them, until they were beaten and thrown into the deepest, darkest part of the city jail.

There they sat, feet in stocks: white-collar criminals treated like thugs.

But they didn't cry out to God in anguish. They didn't call down fire from heaven to destroy their oppressors. They didn't even ask God to free them.

What were they doing just before the earthquake hit? According to verse 25, "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them."

And I know those prayers didn't include "please free us," because when the doors of the prison flew open, and the manacles and chains burst asunder, nobody got up and ran out.

Paul and Silas took their chance at freedom and turned it into an opportunity to talk with the jailor about Jesus...resulting in that jailor and his whole household being saved.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth is...The next time you're feeling low or wrongly accused or beaten up by your circumstances, don't lash out or complain. Try spending some time worshipping the One who controls earthquakes. Who knows what might happen and what good might result?

Giving a Future Apostle the Side-Eye

 

When he arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, since they did not believe he was a disciple.

Acts 9:26

It's hard to blame the Jerusalem Christians for being a bit leery of Saul of Tarsus.

The last time they had seen him, he had promoted himself from coat-checker at Stephen's stoning to judge-jury-executioner on his way to Damascus, warrant in hand, ready to round up and jail every Christian he found.

So when he shows back up in Jerusalem trying to be all "Hey! Shalom shalom, my brother!" they were, naturally, sceptical.

He hadn't changed his name to Paul yet. He hadn't travelled throughout Asia Minor and the coastal regions of the northern Mediterranean planting churches yet. He had yet to set pen to papyrus to write a quarter of the New Testament. 

I'm so glad those Jerusalem believers got beyond their distrust of Paul's past. I'm even more glad that Paul didn't let their scepticism destroy his bold faith.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth is...Mutual funds and stock portfolios will tell you that "Past performance is no guarantee of future results," but that also applies to everyone you meet...and you, too.

I Wonder About Simeon

 

It had been revealed to [Simeon] by the Holy Spirit
that he would not see death
before he saw the Lord’s Messiah.

Luke 2:26

The prophets of Israel had been silent for 400 years. The promise of Yahweh that he would send a deliverer who would make all things right was getting harder and harder to hope for.

"How long, O Lord?"

And while it must have been personally encouraging to Simeon to know that it was all going to finally come to pass in his lifetime, I do wonder about a few things:

• What was Simeon's age when he was told by the Holy Spirit that he would live to see the Messiah? How long had he been waiting since he was given this news?
• How was Simeon told? Was there writing on the wall? Was it a strong feeling or thought that just wouldn't go away?
• Did Simeon tell other people about his special standing as the countdown clock to the Messiah?
• And if he did, what was their reaction to this news? Was he a revered elder, looked up to by everyone...or was he the crazy old man who hears voices in his head, avoided and whispered about by young and old alike?

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth is...I am probably asking these kinds of questions because I'm not sure I'm all that good at differentiating between the Holy Spirit and my personal convictions, opinions, and wishes. That's also why it's important not just for me to be in the Scriptures, but for the Scriptures to be in me...fueling my ability to recognize the voice of God when I hear it.

Parable of the Panamanian Potty

A righteous person who yields to the wicked
is like a muddied spring or a polluted well.
Proverbs 25:26 (CSB)

Several years ago, I was on a short-term mission trip in Panama and visited a primitive island village off the northern shore. Think palm-thatched roofs over half-walled huts and muddy paths between each structure.

The community commode was a hut on stilts, situated over the river, with a hole in its floor. It is important to note that the washing of clothes and the drawing of drinking water took place UPstream from that primitive waste disposal facility.

I remember wondering at the time, though, whether there were any other villages further upstream.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth is...As unpleasant a thought as it is to possibly be bathing in someone's sewer, imagine the stomach-churning irony of a person who claims to be a Christian, giving testimony of God's transforming power while allowing their own private/personal sin to have its way in their life.

Nobody's perfect, but . . .

Money Can't Buy Everything

 

Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”

Luke 18:26

The disciples were taken aback.

Confused might be a better word.

All their lives, they assumed that if a person had wealth, it was a sign that God was pleased with them. Health and wealth meant you and God were on excellent terms. Sickness and poverty were the Lord's punishments when you sinned.

And then, this young, politically powerful, financially well-off guy comes to Jesus and asks, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (v18)

Jesus gives him the standard, expected response about following the commandments, but the rich young man feels the need for something more:

“I have kept all these from my youth.”

Seeing that his original question was sincere and not just another attempt to trap him in some kind of blasphemy, Jesus then lays out a plan of action that, for this wealthy man, sounds a lot like "Take up your cross":

“You still lack one thing: Sell all you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Apparently, this crosses some kind of line, and the guy's face drops as he turns and walks away.

This leads to Jesus saying the line about it being easier for a camel to thread its body through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get to heaven.

That's when the collective jaw of the disciples goes slack and they sputter, "But, but, but...if the rich...the people who God obviously favors, can't enter the Kingdom . . . what hope in the world does ANYbody have??!?"

Jesus tempers their panic with this bit of truth:

“What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth is...Jesus doesn't ask everybody who wants to follow him to take a vow of poverty. That was for that particular man at that particular time. It's all about priorities. If anything is more important to me than following Jesus, am I really following him at all?

Besides, my entrance into heaven doesn't depend on what I do, but on what Jesus has already done.

Bread Broken, Promise Spoken

 

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

1 Corinthians 11:26

Communion.

The Lord's Supper.

The Eucharist.

We have given it lots of different names and observed it in lots of different ways.

Weekly. Monthly. Quarterly. One annual hullabaloo.

But whether you use matzo and wine or saltines and Welch's, one truth remains: Jesus was executed on a Roman cross, and what was meant by the Jewish leaders to silence him once and for all ended up amplifying his Good News until it reverberated in the hearts of every nation, tribe, and tongue.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth is...Some of that spreading of the good news remains unfinished, so let me be clear. The death of Jesus covers the debt of every sin I’ve committed or ever will commit. His resurrection from the tomb foreshadows the unending life that awaits me in Yahweh’s presence. As for the phrase, “proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes,” it carries a promise: Jesus is returning.

And all this can be true for not just me, but for you, too.

Do you believe this?

Anger Management

 

Be angry at sin (at immorality, at injustice,

at ungodly behavior), yet do not sin;

do not let your anger cause you shame,

nor allow it to last until the sun goes down.

Ephesians 4:26 (AMP)

As it usually does, the Amplified Bible helps deepen our understanding of this verse beyond what so many other translations say: "Be angry, yet do not sin."

It's good to be reminded what it's okay to be angry about. Too often, we see Jesus overturning tables in the temple and think, "See? I can be mad at Tim for taking the last slice of pizza!"

Jesus was upset with the moneychangers and bird-sellers because they were making it difficult for people to worship Yahweh, not because the color of the tablecloths clashed with the drapes.

AND...he didn't grumble and brood about it, spreading discontent. He took action, not letting it fester and worsen with the passage of time. Before the sun set, he addressed the issue clearly.

Anger management made simple.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth is...I've often heard people pray, "Lord, break our hearts with what breaks yours." Maybe we could also pray that what angers God would raise our hackles as well.

A Proverb, a Question, and a Song

 

He who trusts confidently in his own heart
is a dull, thickheaded fool,
but he who walks in skillful and godly wisdom
will be rescued.

Proverbs 28:26 (AMP)

Sure, there are plenty of people who don't like being told what to do or where to go. Still, all you have to do to be convinced that most folks are clueless when it comes to matters of eternity is to listen to the variety of responses to the Colbert Questionert question, "What happens when we die?"

Or watch all the scenes in all the movies when a fresh-faced youngster looks into the eyes of the Adult In Charge and asks the same question.

Or take your own poll. How much hemming and hawing do you run into?

It really is true that, even on our best days, we're at least goofy and probably closer to ridiculous.

For long-time readers, it will come as no surprise that today's Scripture and this train of thought remind me of a song by Rich Mullins, "Maker of Noses."

I believe there is a place
Where people live in perfect peace
Where there is food on every plate
Where work is rewarded and rest is sweet
Where the color of your skin
Won't get you in or keep you out
Where justice reigns and truth finally wins
Its hard fought war against fear and doubt

And everyone I know wants to go there too
But when I ask them how to do it they seem so confused
Do I turn to the left?
Do I turn to the right?
When I turn to the world they gave me this advice

They said boy you just follow your heart
But my heart just led me into my chest
They said follow your nose
But the direction changed every time I went and turned my head
And they said boy you just follow your dreams
But my dreams were only misty notions
But the Father of hearts and the Maker of noses
And the Giver of dreams He's the one I have chosen
And I will follow Him
©1992 Kid Brothers of St. Frank Publishing & Edward Grant, Inc.

https://youtu.be/hdspZ8Dexv0?si=hErLYzJFLmTbMDV1

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth is... Obi-Wan Kenobi aptly wraps things up with his piercing question in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope...

Who's the more foolish?
The fool, or the fool who follows him?