Fearless
In yesterday’s post, entitled, “Learning to Wait,” I shared one of the two things God impressed upon me to share with Embrace Church here in High Point, NC. If you missed that post, I want to encourage you to go back and read it. True Christlike character is built in your life and mine as we learn how to wait on God in our lives and churches.
Today, I’d like to pass on to you that second word God placed on my heart for our little church - Fear not.
As I reflected on the prompting of the Holy Spirit to share this word with our church, a passage of Scripture flashed across my mind:
“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)
Make no mistake about it - we are a “little flock.” And this little flock, which by God’s grace, I now shepherd, could compile a pretty good list of things to be afraid of. Here are a few of the highlights on that list -
We are meeting in (I think) our third building in the three-year life of our church.
We barely have enough money to pay the part-time pastor, much less any higher building rent.
We’re not exactly in the ritzy section of High Point. The good news, however, is that some of the local gang members in the neighborhood have given us a thumbs up.
During the extended period the church was without a pastor, several of the original members left. The truth is that many who stayed didn’t have a whole lot of faith in the church’s survival. (Been there, done that!)
Are you getting some idea of why the Lord’s little flock at Embrace Church might be carrying some fears?
BUT THE FACT IS THAT NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THESE FEARS IS VALID.
Time spent worrying about these things is wasted time. And like the poem I heard years ago about the worried cow, it will do more harm than good . . .
The worried cow would have lived till now
If she’d just saved her breath,
But she feared her hay wouldn’t last all day,
So she mooed herself to death.
The things I’ve listed above are in no way things to worry about. There is absolutely no reason for fear to rule in the life of Embrace Church. Just the opposite is true.
Scripture tells us that “the righteous are bold as a lion.” (Pv. 28:1)
Let me ask you a question - what makes the righteous so bold? The answer is their faith. Come what may, they remain steadfast in their commitment to their Lord.
Their faith leads them to take Jesus at his word when he says that those who seek to save their lives will lose them, while those who lose their lives for his sake will find life to its fullest.
They believe him when he says that the Father in heaven knows what we need, and out of his abundant provision, will supply those needs. (Note: needs not greeds.)
My father was a godly man. On his tombstone are etched the words of Philippians 1:21: “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.” And every Bible he ever gave me (and he gave me several) included the words of Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you.”
“Fear not” were the first words of the angel to the shepherds in the fields just outside of Bethlehem, and those are the words that God is speaking to you today.