Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 1:2-7 NASB95 To Timothy, my beloved son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. [3] I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day, [4] longing to see you, even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy. [5] For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well. [6] For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. [7] For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. It all started with the fall of man. Adam and Eve were afraid...and we've been running scared ever since. Afraid of outside forces--afraid of things that cause physical damage--afraid of what others might think of us--afraid of what others might say--afraid of the future--afraid of reaping from the past--afraid of failure... This is the general state of the fallen. We treat our fear with pleasures, with vices, with distractions, with self-help books; looking to overcome something that is deep-seeded in the collective psyche of the human race. There is no natural cure, but there is a supernatural cure. The Apostle Paul reminded Timothy of the cure. It is the "gift of God which is in you." Jesus also spoke of the cure, He said, "You will know Him, for He will dwell with you and will live in you." (John 14:17) Both Jesus and Paul were referring to the Holy Spirit. Make no mistake about it, the Holy Spirit is the cure for fear. Here is the premise: The power that created the universe is living inside of you as a Believer. There is no other force equal to this power. It is why the Bible declares: "Greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world." When you understand who is living in you, you can say with King David, "The Lord is my shepherd I shall not fear!" The Lord has replaced our natural fear with His Spirit, and His Spirit establishes within us a sound mind and fills our lives with the power to overcome. This does not mean that we are now naïve concerning the "real" dangers that exist in the world. We recognize the danger, but are not filled with worry or fear, realizing that whatever we experience, both the good and the bad, God is with us! Questions to Consider:
Author's Note: Even as a young child I had a sense of well-being. A belief that "all things would work out for my good." That God was with me. It's not as if life isn't happening, with its challenges and affronts. In spite of "everything" I feel wrapped and surrounded by God's love. Trusting in God is as secure as it gets on planet earth! RJD
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Scripture Reading: Matthew 7:7-12 NASB95 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. [8] For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. [9] Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? [10] Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? [11] If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! [12] “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Jesus talks about God, who is the good Father who gives good gifts to His children. He then pivots the focus of His teaching on "us." He said, "therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you..." This is commonly known as the "Golden Rule." It seems pretty straight-forward; a concept easy to grasp. Can you imagine the global impact if people actually applied this rule to life? In this particular case, the "Jesus therefore" is important to note. We treat other people the way we want to be treated on the basis of how our heavenly Father has treated us. This is similar to the new commandment that Jesus gave His disciples at the Last Supper. "A new commandment I give unto you, love one another AS I HAVE LOVED YOU!" That certainly challenges my narcissistic tendencies. Love others as Christ loves me. Treat others as God has treated me. It made the national news! Around the time of Christmas, the police department of Boise, Idaho, has started applying the Golden Rule in a very novel way. Instead of handing out tickets the two weeks preceding Christmas, they hand out large chocolate bars. “What?” (And we aren’t talking the little 1.55 oz. bars, we are talking the 7 oz. bars; which is almost ½ pound of chocolate) For minor driving violations, the guilty party receives a warning and a large bar of chocolate from the police. Talk about good will; this is indeed how I would like to be treated. Questions to Consider:
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