Reflections - Fear God

Fear God

Be set on the path to Wisdom

Fear is a normal part of life. But it was not always so. Adam and Eve did not know fear when God created them. And, unfortunately so (as will become clear later). They were overcome by fear moment they bit into the forbidden apple. They sinned and fear came into their life. Ever since fear and sin have gone hand-in-hand. 

Fear begins early in life. Sometimes as early as when the child is in the womb. The child in the womb often carries the scar of the mother's fears. A child born with fear etched in the mind tends to react very differently than a child who is born free from fear. With this understanding or otherwise expectant mothers are always treated with tender loving care – so that the child in the womb will be blessed with a sense of comfort and assurance from all concerns. 

This is more the ideal than the reality for families living in cities with the constant pressure of financial obligations and hundred-and-one-things to do. Often, expectant mothers because of necessity or from career concerns or responsibilities at home "work" late into their pregnancy.

This can adversely affect the child, unless the expectant mother is acutely aware of the situation and is able to be of "good cheer and free from fear". This can only happen if the expectant mother and the family as a whole is prayerful, and is living in the joy, peace and happiness that only Jesus can give. 

The fear passed on by a "restless" mother often manifests itself in the child in various ways. Getting cranky at the slightest "provocation" is perhaps one tell-tale sign. (Equally true of adults who come from an "adversarial" environment). As in all cases, there are exceptions. In some cases, it is a living nightmare for the parents as they do their best to pacify the child. Again, prayer and presence of Jesus in their lives can change everything – for we know that He is a Master of everything. 

Now, let's hark back 2000 and some years. Mary was "deeply disturbed", not fearful, when the angel of the Lord appeared to her.  Mary was born without sin and hence there was no sin in Jesus. Mary was without fear at the birth of Jesus, and later, Mary was without fear at the foot of the cross. It is by Mary that Jesus was born free from fear. It is this sinless nature that gave Jesus the fearlessness to take on Lucifer after fasting for forty days. 

When the shepherds and then the kings came to pay homage to Jesus in the manger, Jesus was a picture of peace – a peace that passes all understanding. Joseph and Mary, for all the hardships they had to undergo before Jesus was born, and soon after, when they had to flee to Egypt – were at peace and free from fear – even though danger was always imminent. 

It is said of Joseph in Mat 1:19 that he was a man who always did what was right. He did not want to disgrace Mary publicly (when he heard that Mary was with child), so he planned to break the engagement privately. But we know that was not to be. Again, Joseph heeded the angel's words, rather than allow destructive thoughts to enter his head. 

Hence, we can summarize that not all fear is bad. 

There are the positive and negative forces of fear. We know that it is the positive forces of fear that pumps "adrenalin" to our brain and helps us respond to danger swiftly enough to avoid it. Our eyes clasp shut in nanosecond when the eye "fears" danger lurking in the form of a particle heading towards it. 

It is the positive nature of Mary's fear of the Lord that made her remark, "I am the handmaiden of the Lord". It is this spirit of fear that we need to cultivate and nurture. Fear born of humility when we ponder the "awesomeness" of God almighty.

Perhaps, it is important to point out that it is not hard to lose this sense of fear in the "grind" of daily life. Every action of ours stands testimony to whether we truly fear God or it is just an interesting notion. 

So, fear in itself is not bad. In fact, the right kind of fear does us a world of good. After all fear is an emotion that is created by God for our survival, and more importantly, for our salvation. Unfortunately for them, Adam and Eve lacked fear of any kind - including God. They sinned, and discovered the negative forces of fear. Mary and Joseph were blessed with the positive forces of fear and the world was blessed with Jesus. 

What is the dominating fear in your life – fear of the World or of God? Negative Fear or Positive Fear? Whichever sphere we are in, it is good to realize it and plan to invest ourselves with the positive forces of fear that comes from God. 

We need to develop the fear of God in our daily life as mentioned earlier – not when we are faced with danger. It may be too late then. Prayer and fasting, as was the practice with Jesus, is a great way to develop the fear of God. When we have achieved this transformation – it will manifest itself in everything that we do – and our children will be blessed likewise – as Jesus was from Mary and Joseph.

May you be blessed with the fear of the Lord – the beginning of Wisdom! (Proverbs 9:10)

Reflections - God and Mammon

God and Mammon

You can serve only one - not both

What does it mean to serve?

A doctor serves his patient. A chartered accountant serves his client. An engineer serves the company that builds bridges or runs the railway network. The General in the army too serves - his country, as do his commandants, officers and men. The pastor serves his congregation.

Jesus was Master, but He stooped to serve, when He washed His disciples’ feet (John 13:1-17). He enjoined them to do the same.

Professionals in all disciplines, serve. That's why they persevere in their studies and in training. They don't do it for money, though it costs a handsome amount to become a professional. Money is the by-product of what they do and how good they are at what they do. Fruits of one’s labor is always well-deserved.

And, then there are the bad apples on a good fruit tree (respected profession); weeds among growing wheat. Their practice and malpractice are to make money and squander money, by themselves or by fate. Be sure, the weeds will get their just comeuppance.

"At that time, I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn." Jesus' Parable; Matthew 13:24-43

To be a professional – a true professional – requires intelligence of a higher order, to understand the complexities of the profession, familiarity with its science, hours of practice … to understand the practice. And, professionals often have a mentor to guide them. Someone they look up to guide them in the nuances of their profession … more importantly, how to be a real good one.

Jesus, in that sense, was a true professional.

He started his ministry only when he was 30. Akin to a medical student getting his MD and then DM degree. He put in hours of study, praying to His Father in Heaven, listening to His Mother (Mary), while helping His father, Joseph, to help make ends meet, through the profession of carpentry. 

Even after such thorough preparation, Jesus continued to pray during His ministry to His Father, before dawn or late at night, to be guided, for the project He had taken on was enormous. He could not do it on His own. He too needed a mentor. The ultimate one, at that.

A non-professional, without a skill or level of education, tends to lean on speculation. One unschooled in finance buys stocks in a company, he becomes a part owner, bearing all the risks if the company fails and profits when the company does well.

The unschooled investor does not do anything to contribute to the company’s growth. He is merely gambling with the company’s prospects. He may hit pay dirt, or lose his investment. He is a ‘punter’ taking his chances.

The punter likes to ‘luck it. To become rich from the ‘sweat and toil’ of another without putting in any effort himself. He has no developed skills or a practice or ability to trade in goods or run a business, all of which requires insight, hard work, and complete oversight; complete charge.

Instead, he places himself at the mercy of others - their capabilities and competencies -who may fail him, for they are fallible, and he cannot do ‘nothing’ about it, when they fail.

On the other hand, the professional knows that the harder he works, and more intelligently he applies himself to the task, the better his prospects; the richer he grows. 

When calamities occur; they happen to all. Not just to the hardworking. But, also to the lazy and the speculators.

The difference?

The one known to work hard, is able to pick himself up and start again. He knows his craft, his market, his customers, his competition, his opportunities, his threats. He is ‘present’ to all outcomes and ready to deal with it.

The man who speculates on stocks or anything that has gambling written on it, cannot pick himself up. He was never in control.

A crisis lays the speculator down harder than the man who worked hard all his life. For just for such a day. He knows in life ‘’stuff’’ happens and he may to start all over again. He is game for it.

He has done it before and knows what to do to rebuild the business on a dime - at a fraction of the time it took to build it earlier. The time he has spent learning the craft would help him recoup, and be restored. The speculator succumbs, not knowing what hit him, and often gives up his life.

When we compare the professional, who makes money the hard way, and the punter, who hopes to make it the easy way, we get some insight into what St Paul writes in 1 Timothy 6:9-10:

“Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.”

You can apply the analogy of the professional and the punter to our faith walk.

Are we really working hard to understand what God wants of us? Are we glorifying God in what we do who has bequeathed us with the talent? Do we even acknowledge the talent we have? Do we know who He would like us to serve for which He has given us this talent?

Do we turn to God only in a "storm" and hope, instead of knowing for sure, that Jesus rebuked the wind, and the storm dissipated? (Matthew 8:23-27)

There are so many questions we need to ask of ourselves with only one objective: in all we do, are we moving toward the salvation of our soul, and eternal life; or are we unknowingly, like the foolish punter, speculating on what 'life after' is all about, if in fact, there is a ‘life after’; paving their way to perdition.

If there is confusion on the question of ‘afterlife’; there’s much confusion in the mind of the Christian about “God and Money”.

Because Mathew 6:24 says: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (money).”

The answer to both the questions is the same: Knowing God’s Will in our life.

Simon Peter and his brother, Andrew and their fishing mates, had not caught anything after a whole night of fishing. Then Jesus from the shore instructs Simon to “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” (Luke 5:4). The catch was so huge, the boat nearly sank.

That moment, that very moment, they knew Jesus was the Messiah they have been waiting for over two millennium (2000 years) for Moses had said to the Israelites:

"The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him." (Deuteronomy 18:15)

The apostles on the boat did exactly that.

When Jesus said, “Come follow me, I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19), the apostles on the boat left their fishing nets; and others, who were so called, abandoned their sources of income, took leave from their families and followed Jesus.

Matthew, ostracized by his own people, but admired by the Roman garrison head (Praetor) for his resourceful in collecting taxes, dropped everything too, and walked away from the tax collection booth, when Jesus, passing by, called out to him, “Matthew, follow me”.

They all left everything – their homes and families - to follow Jesus.

Today, how do we follow Jesus, and to “martyrdom”, which was the fate of all 10 apostles (except John the Evangelist), St Paul, St Stephen, and many early Christians, who the Romans considered to be trouble makers, with all the talk of crucified and resurrected Christ, conversions and salvation, which all came to a head during Emperor Nero’s time (54-68 AD).

The persecution of the church still continues and those who preach and practice the faith still face difficulties and death in some countries, but it is not 54-68 AD for most of us.

What is our “martyrdom” when most of us Christians live a safe, comfortable, and privileged life.

Some Christians are very rich – from inheritance or hard work; and some are not, and some very deeply so.

The question of “martyrdom” - giving up something we deeply value - in these days of relative freedom (vs. Roman occupation of Jews) could revolve around the question of do we “serve two masters” – God and Mammon?

Matthew 25:40 tells us what Jesus said about following Him in our times:

"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'

It is for each one of us to examine ourselves on this question of “serving” God and “de-serving” Mammon, based on what the Word of God through the Holy Spirit lays upon our hearts regarding the same.

“For the Word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” Hebrews 4:12

However, when it comes to others, we need to remember Luke 6:37

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”

This is so important for us to understand in the context of the question of “Serving two masters”

Let us not judge others on whether they are serving God or Mammon. Let the Holy Spirit convict them.

Instead, let our prayer be, at every examination of our conscience, “Precious Holy Spirit, convict me, should I err on the matter of the master I serve”

To intellectualize the issue of serving ‘God and Mammon’ beyond a point would be to miss the forest for the trees.

The real sense of it, we will only have, when we are breathing our last, contemplating what’s beyond, but alive enough to say, ‘I served God’.

Reflections - The Genesis of Sin

The Genesis of Sin

God spoke and the earth, air and water formed

God spoke again and mammals, birds and fish spawned

God took dust and his spit to make dough

Out came man his nostril breath God did blow

God willed that harmony abide

But the evil one did Eve chide

Did God really say you must not eat of any tree?

Eve asserted not any but just the one in middle you see

Oh, said the cunning servant why might that be 

To which Eve said knowing not what it means: that we will die

No, no said the serpent, that you will not

Instead you will be like God knowing truth and lie

Now the fruit on the tree became more than what it seemed

Its beauty, it's fragrance, it's lustre gleamed

Eve could no more resist and out she reached 

Took a luscious bite and gave to Adam too and God's covenant they breached

Their pure being they sullied 

Becoming aware of their nakedness they hurried

He called to them but sensed that something was aboard

The serpent had tricked and Adam and Eve were gored 

With sin that God so abhorred

Hid they behind bushes fearful of Him they so loved 

In shame they stitched leaves that God disposed 

Bloodied skin he imposed 

To cover their nakedness, life of labor and pain was enforced

In Jesus we are redeemed 

By blood much esteemed

That obedience to God and His Word is where the Kingdom lies

Being free of sin and to commune with God at Eden where He strides

Being obedient children to a Heavenly Father and his pride.

The Promises of God: 10 Powerful Bible Verses

by JOSH WILEY on FEBRUARY 26, 2011 ·  Print ·  Email

The Bible is the word of God and is powerful and life changing. The promises of God start with 2 Timothy 3:16 when God tells us that all Scriptures in the Bible are inspired by God. With this promise of God in hand we can then be assured that what we learn in the Bible comes from Him!

Check out these lyrics from this song or click at the video on the right to see Alan Jackson sing this.

Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
Listening every moment to the Spirit’s call
Resting in my Savior as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God.

Are you standing on the promises of God today? Is God your all in all?

photo © 2010 Renate Dodell | more info(via: Wylio)These ten powerful Bible Verses about the promises of God are meant to encourage you today. Read through them slowly and let God work these promises into your hearts. These scriptures come from both the old and new testament. Feel free to add any other good Bible Verses about the promises of God in the comments.

10 Scriptures About God’s Promises

2 Peter 1:4

And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Matthew 11:28-29

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Isaiah 40:29-31

He gives power to the weak
and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will become weak and tired,
and young men will fall in exhaustion.
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.

Philippians 4:19

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:37-39

No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Proverbs 1:33

But all who listen to me will live in peace,
untroubled by fear of harm.”

John 14:27

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

Romans 10:9

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

The promises of God are powerful and awesome to grasp. I pray that these scriptures about God’s promises were helpful to you today.

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If this article was helpful to you, please consider linking this article to your own blog or sharing this through the social buttons to the left. You might also find some of these other good Bible Verse articles helpful:

25 Bible Verses For Strength- Are you looking for Strength? Check out these scriptures about how to find strength in God.

15 Quotes from Jesus in the Bible-  What did Jesus say when He was with us? Check out these amazing quotes.

25 Bible Verses About Love- Love is a much talked about topic. What does the Bible say about love?

Resource – Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT). Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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