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Fear is a Liar

/ EloquentMuse / Leave a comment

I confess that I once believed fear and the things it would tell me in the darkness.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

It says “do not fear” hundreds of times in the Bible, one of God’s most frequently repeated commands.

Almost every person spoken of in the Bible faced terrible fear, and it’s very possible even Jesus was overwhelmed with this feeling in the Garden of Gethsemane.

“Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

When Jesus says that He is troubled, that is the Greek word ἀδημονέω, which can be translated as heavy, feel fear, or lack courage.

Why would the Bible say multiple times that we should not fear, and then show Jesus, a perfect being, as fearful? Well, probably it’s because God understands that most of us will be afraid when facing pain or possible death. The point is not let fear determine our actions nor let it incapacitate us. Jesus showed us what to do when afraid. He turned to the Father and prayed, nonstop. He asked for companionship with fellow believers. Sometimes, though, we are alone in our darkest hour, like Jesus was, and others don’t stand by our side. In that case, let there be no doubt that we need no companionship more than the one with Father God. He will never leave your side.

“Do not fear” is not a command to switch our fears off like a light switch, which is impossible. It’s a comforting phrase to remind us that God is in control always.

“But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.” Psalm 56:3

When, not if, I am afraid, I will trust you God. All of us will be afraid at some point. What will you do with it?

Fear is spoken of often in the Word because it is a universal spiritual battle.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

Fear is not from God. It has touched us all in some form, and it is very powerful. However, it’s important to remember that God is more powerful, and with God, you are more powerful.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34

“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.” Psalm 55:22

“The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The Lord is with me; he is my helper.” Psalm 118:6-7

“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.” Proverbs 29:25

We could go on all day with these verses, but I think you get the point. Let me tell you a more personal story.

I’ve dealt with anxiety all my life. I didn’t always understand why I would feel so uncomfortable going to the store or going to tae kwon do classes I’d been going to for years. I didn’t always get that my chronic nightmares were a product of unrecognized emotions. I just avoided things that made it happen when I could. One night as a child, God planted a seed in me that I needed later.

I was relaxing in my safe bedroom when I became unreasonably afraid. Now that I look back, I’m not sure if I just got the creeps for some reason or if it was an anxiety attack. All I know is that I went on high alert, and I couldn’t move from my spot to tell anyone. All I could do was whisper to God from underneath my blankets. So, I did, and I sang to Him for at least an hour.

Slowly at first, the invisible claws that squeezed my heart in fear released until they disappeared. When I say I became unafraid that night, I don’t mean that I simply felt normal again. I felt so without fear, brave, confident in my safety that I was literally smiling as I finally fell asleep.

“Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified.
“It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them:
“Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out,
“Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.
“You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying,
“Truly you are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:22-33

Note that Peter said, “tell me to come to you on the water.” He asked for God to help him face his fear. He wanted to experience the fear with God at his side.

Anytime I’ve felt afraid again or anxious in anyway, I try to make it a point to face the fear. Sometimes, I’m unsuccessful. However, I know that the feeling can be overcome with God’s strength, so I pray to myself or aloud in that moment.

Never let fear be the reason you do or don’t do something. Be smart. The emotion is there as a warning signal that there “might” be danger. Don’t walk into a fire or jump off a building because you aren’t acting on fear, obviously. However, if you feel fear when the future is uncertain, don’t act on that fear. The fear will build a wall to block life out. Tear down those bricks; hide under a blanket and say a prayer. Focus your sights on God. Then, come on out and face the world.

God’s got you.

*This article is dedicated to Erin Vincent, a friend who is currently undergoing her own “walk on water” situation.*

Sources other than the Bible:
https://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/christian-trends/what-gideon-in-the-bible-can-teach-you-about-overcoming-fear.html
https://biblicalwoman.com/overcoming-stronghold-fear/
https://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/debbie-mcdaniel/33-verses-to-remind-us–we-do-not-have-to-fear.html

Turn the Other Cheek: Rebellion Tips by Jesus

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“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, do not resist one who is evil: If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him also. And if anyone would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile with him, go two. Give to him who begs from you, and do not refuse him who would borrow from you . . . . Love your enemies, for if you love only those who love you, what merit is that? . . . Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matt. 5:38-42, 46, 48)

Ah, the verses of peace, forgiveness….weakness? Of course Jesus supported whole-heartedly a life of forgiveness and love, but was He condoning abuse or being a doormat? Please, take another look at the context in which He spoke the above words.

Let’s first look at turning the other cheek. In the times Jesus lived in, the Roman government ruled over several other peoples, including the Jews. If a Roman soldier gave orders that a Jew disobeyed, it was typical of the soldier to backhand him or her across the face. The slap became known as a symbol that they looked at the Jews as inferior. Since most people are right-handed, if they backhanded someone, their right hand would strike a right cheek. However, if a soldier was ready to strike an equal, he would usually punch, which would strike a person’s left cheek. This practice of slapping was so pervasive that Jesus gave Jews advice on how to deal with it.

Don’t fight them and don’t meekly accept their behavior. Turn the cheek. It was a sign of passive defiance. It’s saying, “I demand to be treated as an equal.” It forces the soldier to either hit them as an equal (instead of as a superior) or at least take a moment to realize how they are treating another human being.

Next, what about handing over a coat when a person only sued you for the shirt off your back? Basically, that’s a way of saying that if someone sued you for a great sum, voluntarily give them literally everything. Why on Earth would we do this?

An outer coat also served as a poor person’s blanket, and it was illegal to take someone’s coat overnight as they would be possibly exposed to the elements. It was inhumane. Also, by the way, if they had your shirt AND your coat, you were left naked. Nakedness was taboo in Judaism, and if creditor actually went through with causing a debtor to be naked just to repay his debt, it made the creditor look bad. It was a peaceful way to expose the evils of their greed and corruption. It flipped the humiliation to the other party as the debtor stood unashamed.

Now, concerning going two miles when you’re forced to go only one: Roman soldiers had to travel many miles for various reasons, and to make that work without wearing out the soldiers carrying heavy equipment, they could force Jews, or any foreigner, to carry their backpacks and belongings for a mile, legally. A person being forced to do this had to stop whatever else they were doing and take time to walk a mile there and a mile back. However, Jesus is exhorting people to “go the extra” mile.

There’s actually a good reason the soldiers needed help with carrying things, but Jesus didn’t want the Jews to act like this was a pain to help. He wanted Jews to recognize that even in their protests, they were reflecting their God. He wanted them to go above and beyond. In this way, the soldiers saw they weren’t going the extra mile because they were legally forced to but because they had genuine desire to assist others. Maybe in this way, the soldiers would see beyond their own pre-conceived prejudices and superiority complexes and see the good that came from God’s people.

An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth is a cycle that never really ends. Violence begets violence and vengeance begets vengeance. Yet, paying back evil with good is the way of God, and it’s a form of glory and peaceful protest. I believe Jesus was saying that you should never stand for being abused or subjugated, but you should never react violently either. Your rebellion will be heard better when you stand above the cacophony of anger and revenge.

Sources other than Bible:

https://www.reenactingtheway.com/blog/turning-the-other-cheek-jesus-peaceful-plan-to-challenge-injustice
https://www.thorncrownjournal.com/timeofchrist/romans.html
https://www.cpj.ca/defiance-not-compliance-turning-other-cheek
https://www.touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=06-03-023-v
https://dustinfjames.wordpress.com/2010/09/21/if-someone-asks-for-your-cloak/
http://storage.cloversites.com/makinglifecountministriesinc/documents/What%20does%20going%20the%20Second%20Mile%20mean.pdf

Learning to be Love(d)

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I’ve written a lot about how to love others and what God expects from us, but as the saying goes, “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” You must yourself be filled before you can be expected to fill others. This world is constantly changeable and unreliable to take care of this need for you. You can find joy in the love of other humans, less so in temporary joys, but you need a strong source of water to quench your thirst or you’ll be running after puddles in search for satiety. There is only one source of love and joy strong enough to sustain you, only one that will never fade or disappear or change.

The desire for love is a spiritual thirst. It’s one built in us by God. Let’s start with some verses about God’s love for us.

“Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.” Deuteronomy 7:9

“But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” Psalm 86:15

“Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.” Psalm 136:26

“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.” John 15:9-17

“God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 4:7-8

These are some of the great multitude of verses in the Bible about God’s love. Did you know the Bible mentions love, depending on the translation, between 419-766 times?

Here are some stumbling blocks that keep us from receiving God’s love:

1)Some of us see God through our experiences with other people, so if we see Him as a father, we may think of our own dad, or if we think of Him as a friend, we think on our own friendships. Here’s the thing: God is not human, and He’s not a god in the sense of the Greek or Roman gods who stumble over their own feet and get caught up in mistakes and emotions. He is a perfect being, whose ongoing purpose is love. There’s nothing and no one to compare Him to, and that leads us to the next point.

2)Don’t be a stickler for legalism nor think that God is in any way. Oh, don’t get me wrong. God is order in the chaos, and He has laws and ordinances. Unlike the Pharisees whom Jesus continually ridiculed, you shouldn’t use the law as a weapon but as a tool and that includes toward yourself. There’s the rule and there’s the spirit behind the rule. For example, if you were told not to touch the cookie jar as a child, as your mother was cooking dinner, does that mean you’ll never be able to touch the cookie jar? Does it mean you’ll never have cookies again? No, the spirit behind her telling you that was because she didn’t want you fill up on empty calories when she has something nutritious coming up soon. God’s rules are foundations for the larger truth. Don’t think of God as an authoritarian dictator ready to condemn you on every mistake. You may have had authority figures in the past who’ve acted that way, but God is not them. God is the ultimate leader.

3)Sometimes, we feel it’s difficult to accept love because we have no sense of self-worth. God thought of you, knew you were going to make many mistakes, and made you anyway. He LOVES you the way you are, in all your unique quirky ways. He just wants the best for you. You’re thinking, yeah but what about… yes, that too. God loves that part of you too. You are not what you do. You are not your sins. You are a beloved Child of God, which leads us to the last point.

4)You’re not quite sure if you’re saved or not. I used to think all the time that I really hoped I made it heaven cause death is scary, but I was never really sure if I would. Now, all alone, I’d definitely be sent to the fieriest parts of damnation, but we’re talking about salvation here. Do you believe in God and love Him? Do you? If you can ask that as a yes, then yes you’re saved. Let’s not live our lives in doubt and fear. God isn’t fear. He’s saved you, and you should live knowing that with the utmost confidence. Now that you’ve put that behind you, live your life spreading the joy of your salvation.

So, what does it mean that God loves us? Let’s ask God.

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.’” Isaiah 43:2

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.” Romans 8:28

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Revelation 21:4

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Isaiah 43:1-3

“If I say, “My foot slips,” Your mercy, O Lord, will hold me up. In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul” Philippians 4:13

“The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” John 16:33

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” 1 Peter 5:6-7

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” Isaiah 43:2

“My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.” Psalm 62:5-8

Knowing God loves you is one thing, feeling it in your soul is quite another. Feel God’s love for you as He will never let you go.

How Do I Know I’m Saved?

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How do I know if I’m saved? What if I’m not good? What if I keep on sinning?

Before I was aware of the intricacies of salvation, I was afraid. In an earlier post, I wrote a testimony about my childhood experience of God “speaking” to me. There seem to be so many rules, especially when you focus on the old testament, and it overwhelmed me because I couldn’t even remember them all. Forget following them. So, I asked God to give me anything I could remember, so no matter what I faced in life, I would know I was doing the right thing. I wasn’t exactly expecting anything, but if I got a summary of His laws, it would probably be at least a paragraph. A single word came to mind:

love.

So, I set upon my Bible immediately, and it fell right to this verse:

“And when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they themselves gathered together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested Him with a question: “Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?”

Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:34-40

Love here is the Greek ἀγαπήσεις, which means have preference for, wish well to, regard the welfare of, welcome with desire, or long for. (strongs)

It seemed impossible for a word to sum everything up, yet it’s never proved itself wrong no matter what I’ve experienced so far in life. God is love, and it makes more and more sense as time passes by. So, what does this have to do with Salvation?

First thing you need to know is that salvation didn’t start when Jesus came to Earth as man. If you say it was because he was good man, you’re dead wrong.

“What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.

But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness . . . . Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. . . . Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.” (Romans 4:1–5, 9–10, 16)

No one has ever in the history of ever been saved because they were good enough, nor because they did enough good works to make up for sins, nor because they were able to completely stop sinning at some point in their life. Case in point: Abraham. Before there were Jews, Christians, or even the Israelite nation, there lived Abraham (aka Abram). We aren’t told much about him before God called on him.

“The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

“I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”

So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him.” Genesis 12:1-4

God was making Abraham promises before he took a single step. God chose Abraham before he’d done anything righteously noteworthy. Essentially, God was saying, have faith, believe in my promises, and I’ll give them to you, and these were Earth-shaking promises. Abraham believed God. The next section, we see Abraham lying to a pharaoh and almost causing his wife to commit adultery or be raped. God saved her from this, but seriously, Abraham. He doesn’t seem perfect to me. Then, he started worrying that God wasn’t going to follow through with His promises when he and his wife grew old and childless. How would his children grow into a nation if he didn’t have children? He started making plans to make a servant an heir. It says,

“Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.” Genesis 15:6

He had momentary doubts and worries, but he decided to continue having faith in God. So, God considered Abraham righteous. Did you see it say that Abraham did this great thing, he had a heart of gold, and stopped making mistakes, so God credited to him as righteousness? Nope. It said God considered Abraham righteous because he believed God. Abraham was saved. He was righteous. Because he had faith in God and His promises.

Let’s rewind back to love.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Yep, it’s the same word from Greek here. Do you notice that part of loving someone, including God, means you trust them? You can’t love God and not trust Him. That is faith. He sees what we don’t, and we won’t always see the top of the staircase, even if we’re called to walk up it. Abraham worried, too, what the next step would be because he couldn’t see the top, and the staircase was getting a little lengthy.

Abraham loved God eventually, but it started with trust and faith. That’s how he was saved.

I’m going to drag this out a little, forgive me, but I want to illustrate this further so you can fully understand.

God is called our father and we His children. Now, for those of you who have children or even someone you love a whole lot, picture this scenario.

Imagine y’all are walking along, and you see a sharp ravine. In the ravine are railroad tracks. You warn them to not get too close, but nevertheless, they suddenly slip and fall. It’s too steep for them to climb themselves out and now there’s a train bearing down, whistling a sharp note of warning. The only one who can save them is you. Do you:

1) Consider whether they have been good to you first

2) Reach out a saving hand for them to grab

I’m guessing for most of you with a heart, you’ll grab them without a second thought. If you would do this, and you’re a mere fallible human, don’t you think the King of the Universe, God of love and light, would do at least this?

“What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Luke 11:9-13

When you fall from grace, God is the only one who can save you. He will save you, no questions asked. Also, consider this.

Imagine the same situation as before, and as you reach our your hand, your child/loved one refuses to take it. Imagine they turn their back. Imagine they try to climb up the side to save themselves despite your urgent cries. What do you feel? These are the unsaved. They refuse God. They don’t trust Him. They don’t believe in Him.

Now, imagine they refused but suddenly the train is at their back and they realize, last minute, they need your help. They finally blessedly take your hand in time for you to pull them to safety. Would you:

1) Consider the fact they refused and distrusted you up to this point and refuse them help for their last minute change of mind

2) Reach out and save them anyway

I’ve heard of some who believe a death-bed conversion is not a truly saved person. First, that’s between the person and God. You can never know a person’s heart like God does. Second, if they are converted, they are saved. They are still saved. God will still save them. If you would save your child or loved one in the above situation, more so will God.

Now, let’s summarize. We aren’t saved because we do good works. We do good works because we’re saved. God changes us mind and soul, sends His Holy Spirit to guide us because we believe in Him. When God reaches out a hand, we take it. We trust He will save us. That is salvation. If we fall again into the ravine, God will come save us again and again. He doesn’t wear out his forgiveness, and I doubt any of you would allow your loved one to die just because they are constantly falling into the ravine.

Now, is constantly falling a possible sign that someone doesn’t actually have faith in God? Yes. He warned them, and they didn’t believe Him. Or, they decide to live their life thinking God will forgive them in the end. They obviously don’t actually love God.

You return again. None of us are perfect. That’s the very reason we need God.

Please believe and love. Have faith in His words. He already loves you. He already believes in you. He already has His hand outstretched waiting to embrace you on the top of the ravine.

Sources other than Bible:
Strong’s Concordance

Rituals, Habits, & the Human Brain

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We are beings of habit. Our successes and failures are contingent on the habits we make and those we break. We aren’t only speaking of physical habits, like remembering to brush your teeth each night, but also habits of mind. I remember speaking to a counselor once who suggested one such habit to reverse my anxiety patterns. He said to seek out a regularly occurring sound in my environment. Every time I heard that sound, I should close my eyes and have a silent moment of stillness and peace. Eventually, my mind would automatically become relaxed on habit.

It’s easy to see the rituals, feasts, ceremonies, and regular sacrifices in the Bible as facets of an ancient world separate from our own. Some will state that they were only for remembrance of God and how He walked with His people in the past, present, and how He will walk with us in the future. That’s only partly true. I’m convinced that they were also created to create a habit of mind.

“How do your voluminous sacrifices benefit me?” the LORD is asking. “I’ve had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts. I don’t enjoy the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. When you come to appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts? Stop bringing useless offerings! Incense is detestable to me, as are your New Moons, Sabbaths, and calling of convocations. I cannot stand iniquity within a solemn assembly. As for your New Moons and your appointed festivals, I abhor them. They’ve become a burden to me; I’ve grown weary of carrying that burden. When you spread out your hands in prayer, I’ll hide my eyes from you. Even though you pray repeatedly, I won’t listen. Your hands are full of blood, your fingers drenched with iniquity.” Isaiah 1:11-15

“For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year.” Hebrews 10:1-3

On the one hand, the Israelites were being constantly reminded of their past sins so they weren’t doomed to repeat history. On the other hand, God didn’t want empty rituals done by mechanical repetition. They were made to make people more conscious not less. They were a type of meditation. Better yet, these rituals were like mental practice for greater things.

One source states:

“People tend to think that what differentiates religious people from their secular counterparts is that they believe different things. But that is less than half the story. People in most religions behave distinctively. They engage in ritual. They do certain things like praying, over and over again. Ritual is the religious equivalent of “deep practice.”

We can now understand why. Constant practice creates new neural pathways. It makes certain forms of behaviour instinctive. It reconfigures our character so that we are no longer the people we once were. We have, engraved into our instincts the way certain strokes are engraved in the minds of tennis champions, specific responses to circumstance. Prayer engenders gratitude. Daily charitable giving makes us generous. The “thou shalt not’s” of religion teach us self control. Ritual changes the world by changing us.

This would not have surprised Aristotle or Maimonides because that is how they believed virtue is acquired, by constantly repeating virtuous acts. “Habit becomes second nature,” as the medieval thinkers put it. That does not mean that genes have no part to play. I think I always knew that with my height and lack of body coordination I was not destined to be a basketball champion. But neither talent nor virtue is determined by the lottery of birth. Hard work beats lazy genius every time.

Far from being outmoded, religious ritual turns out to be deeply in tune with the new neuroscience of human talent, personality and the plasticity of the brain. The great faiths never forgot what science is helping us rediscover: that ritual creates new habits of the heart that can lift us to unexpected greatness.” (rabbisacks)

We may no longer do the same rituals or have to sacrifice lambs for our sins (since the great Lamb Jesus did the last and most meaningful sacrifice). However, as Christians, we should implement ritual to our everyday routine in order to ingrain the habits we want to sustain in the name of God.

People don’t wake up after baptism being excellent disciples. We are what we do repeatedly. Start somewhere. Donate, practice empathy in your next interaction, read the Bible, set an alarm at a certain time daily and do something for someone else. Research says it takes twenty-one days for a habit to form. It will literally change your mind.

Let’s practice being disciples together and amaze the world with God’s greatness. Even if we fail most days, look at all the good we could do in the meantime!

Sources other than Bible:
https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-13-ritual-versus-reality-romans-225-29
http://rabbisacks.org/credo-ritual-develops-habits-that-can-lift-us-to-greatness/

Finally, Be Strong

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Many of us in Western countries are blessed in that we can worship freely with little to no oppression. However, that doesn’t mean it’s easy to stand firm and proud for what we believe in, and we can face backlash and even hatred for our principles. As many of you know, you need to put on the armor of God.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:10-18

Let’s break this apart, shall we? Paul wrote the book of Ephesians from a Roman prison in Ephesus, waiting for his trial in front of Caesar. His ministry had been so successful that the silversmiths were losing money with all the people that stopped buying idols and worshiping Artemis. He left to Jerusalem but was arrested there. We know the outcome of his trial was execution.

Needless to say, Paul knew first-hand what it was to stand firm in his faith while facing death.

When speaking of the armor of God, he describes several pieces of armor and weaponry common for Roman soldiers to equip. In fact, it seems the verse goes in order to how a soldier would’ve put those pieces on his body.

Belt of Truth – First thing equipped and used to hold everything in place, both the rest of his armor/equipment but also to hold extras he may need like money or food. Without the Word of God and His truth, everything else we do will fall apart.

Breastplate of Righteousness – Resting on and attached directly to the belt, the breastplate protects the heart. Living our lives in God’s way of love will protect us from temptations and harm to our hearts.

Feet fitted with Readiness – A Roman soldier had footwear with spikes in the heel, to better grip, balance, and well to defend themselves with! We need to stand ready and steady to deal with whatever may come our way, eyes wide open.

Shield of Faith – Roman shields were long, spanning from chin to knees. When under great attack, many soldiers together would hunch down together and combine shields to protect themselves and their fellow soldiers until they were able to, as a group, make the next move. Our faith and trust in God will protect us from the fiery arrows of the world, and when we combine our forces to protect each other with encouragement and trust in God, we’re unstoppable.

Helmet of Salvation – Many nations had leather or bone helmets, but the Romans wore bronze or iron helmets, almost impervious to attack. As children of God, we are saved, which means many things, but one the biggest things it means is that the Holy Spirit now lives within us to help us direct our ways. With the Holy Spirit, our minds are protected from worldly attacks, trying to sway our minds into paths of darkness and doubt.

Sword of Spirit – A Roman soldier had a few types of swords, one of which was a two-edged sword. The Word of God, the Holy Spirit, while it protects, also cuts through the darkness, getting straight to the truth of the matter. If God is with us, who can be against us?

Something else to remember is this:

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”

Put on the armor first, prepare. The soldier doesn’t arm him or herself in the middle of a battlefield. They put it on before they step out. Find a way to put on your armor daily before doing anything else, so that you will be prepared for whatever comes your way.

One way of doing this is prayer, which Paul actually addresses. It brings us back to God’s perspective, our faith in Him, and is a type of meditation to calm us at the start of day. You can also start the day with Bible reading. Don’t sigh. You don’t have to read a whole book to make this effective. Simply, read a daily verse like those through the Bible app. Like prayer, it centers us back onto the right path. You can journal, draw, run while contemplating God, etc. You do you. Just find a way to equip yourself.

How do you put on the armor of God each day? Comment with your own ideas, and as always, love y’all!

Sources other than Bible:
http://www.christianarsenal.com/Christian_Arsenal/Full_Armor_of_God.html
http://www.truthnet.org/Spiritual-warfare/6BackgroundArmor-God/Armor-of-God.htm

Blood & Water

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I hope you get more out of this weekend than bunnies and chocolate eggs. I hope you take more than a moment to recognize that what you’re celebrating is bittersweet.

As you may be aware, Jesus was in an exceptional amount of torment, physically and mentally, during his crucifixion. However, when the legionnaire lanced Him through the side (to ensure He died), blood and water came out. Medically, that means:

“- there was an escape of water fluid from the sac surrounding the heart, giving postmortem evidence that Our Lord died not the usual crucifixion death by suffocation, but of heart failure (a broken heart) due to shock and constriction of the heart by fluid in the pericardium.” (CBN)

He died of a symbolically broken heart because of our sins.

Unlike Christmas’s proximity to His possible birth, Easter Sunday is probably very close to when Jesus actually died on the cross. Jesus was crucified on the eve of Passover,which lasts seven days. He rose around Saturday night just as the weekly Sabbath ended. Let’s see how the Passover was a sign of God’s promise and yearly reminder of a savior He’d send to His people.

Long ago, in the Old Testament, Jews were enslaved by the Egyptians (much like God’s children are enslaved by the evils of this world before they’re saved). God sent a plague that ravaged Egypt, killing every first born except for those who smeared lamb’s blood on their doorways (the lamb symbolizing Jesus, of course). Those same families would be gathering inside their safe homes and eating the very first Passover meal, which was rife with symbols of both bitter times, mourning, and finally hope and renewal. It was a way to remember the past, put it behind them, and move on to a brighter future.

The next day, the Jews left Egypt en masse. After three days, the Pharaoh realized that they weren’t returning from their religious holiday and began to pursue them. It wasn’t long after that the Hebrews passed onto the other side of the parted Red Sea, not allowing their pursuers to follow them.Many years later, Jesus rose from His grave and saved His people from their own spiritual pursuers.

Forty years after they fled Egypt, the Jews crossed the Jordan River to enter into God’s Promised Land. This is the same river in which Jesus was baptized.

Please have a good weekend, but remember God’s great love for you, how He’d die for you, and most importantly how He lives again for you.

Many blessings.

Sources other than Bible:
https://www1.cbn.com/medical-view-of-the-crucifixion-of-jesus-christ
https://www.ucg.org/the-good-news/jesus-wasnt-crucified-on-friday-or-resurrected-on-sunday-how-long-was-jesus-in-the

We the Priests, the Warriors

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This world can be full of troubles, death, and darkness. Most of us have felt helpless at some point in the face of the overwhelming atrocities.

As Christians, we are unique in that God has called upon us to be the light in this darkness, to be a source of hope in the midst of hopelessness.The unbelievers are annoyed by our constant replies that we will send “thoughts and prayers” to victims every time something occurs, yet nothing is put into action or changed to prevent the evil from occurring again. Of course they are! Don’t automatically put up a wall when you hear the outpouring of anger against us when you can find wisdom in their words. Put your love of God above your pride and listen. Of course we must pray, pray always and without ceasing. However, we are called to be God’s hands and feet, used by Him to lead the world to His way of love.

So, what can we do? How exactly can we accomplish that?

There’s a popular, albeit fictional, story of an atheist professor who attempted to shame the believers in his classroom by calling into question the logic of a purely good God. He stated that if good and bad exist, and God created everything, then God created bad and is, therefore, not purely good. Without posting the story in its entirely, a student stood up and turned the questions around in order to show that, in the same manner that darknessand coldness does not exist in themselves but are the absence of light and heat, so too, evil is simply the absence of good and, therefore, God.

We are called to bring light and warmth to a dark and cold world. Anytime, there’s a question of how, we can look to the Bible.

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people to be his very own and to proclaim the wonderful deeds of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God. Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you as aliens and exiles to keep on abstaining from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul. Continue to live such upright lives among the gentiles that, when they slander you as practicers of evil, they may see your good actions and glorify God when he visits them. ” 1 Peter 2:8

You are a priest, and what did priests do? They lived their lives as examples of joy, love, and truth, as we are called to be examples to the world. They were those who had direct access to God and His messages, and they were responsible for announcing those messages to all those who would hear, as we are called to spread the gospel. They made sacrifices that appealed to God for others’ sins and praised Him for their blessings, as we do when we pray. There’s something else they did:

They separated the clean and unclean, the diseased from the healthy. If someone was diagnosed with a contagious disease, that person was quarantined away from everyone until he or she was declared no longer contagious. If someone was unclean for some reason or another, that person was made to stay outside of the encampment to keep from spreading diseases or making the clean unclean. Not to mention that the punishments for those who committed crimes against others were harsh and immediate.

What does this mean for us? We are called, as a holy people, to discern the unhealthy and unclean and push for the powers-that-be to separate them from the rest of us. If those who are unhealthy purposely harm others, we are called to push for the powers-that-be to punish those criminals.

You are a warrior, and what do warriors do? They do not rest in apathy. If you are a Christian, you are called into action as a priestly warrior of God. We all know the verse about the full armor of God:

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:10-18

Another thing to remember is that we are all made gloriously different with varying points of view. What a shame if we didn’t have the strength to see different dimensions and solutions to problems! Let us come together as brothers and sisters and not fight amongst ourselves, but hear each the other’s opinions, so that we can find a way to shed God’s light and love into the confused, blind, and horrified world.

And also, always, always pray.

Painting the Backdrop of Jesus

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Many people assume details about the world surrounding Jesus and other Biblical figures. It’s common to acknowledge they dressed funny, spoke another language, and wore long beards and/or hair. However, there’s much, much more we might overlook.

First, we’ll start with where Jesus grew up. He lived in Nazareth, a village in the Galilee. According to archaeological evidence, Nazareth was certainly a small village, but it stood on the edges of a thriving urban city, Sepphoris. In that time, the major cities, especially, were inundated with the Greek and Roman lifestyle: various forms of entertainment like theatres and amphitheaters, etc despite the fact it was a Jewish city. Jesus was raised between the ancient Hebrew world and the newer Greek/Roman world. He even possibly spoke a few languages (Hebrew, Aramaic – the everyday language, and Latin) as it was common for Jews to use all three.

Yet, he never really speaks in the New Testament like an urbanite. Also, interestingly, He never mentions (in the Bible) Sepphoris despite how close it existed to His home.

His family trade is typically seen as carpentry, but the Greek word used is “tectone,” which simply means something close to artisan or craftsperson. Even farmers were higher class than an artisan. Those farmers who were forced from their lands might become an artisan in order to get by. Peasants typically disliked cities due to both social status and Jewish-Roman tensions. Yet, He uses the words and images of a peasant farmer (Nazareth was a farming village), someone very in tune with the earth and nature around Him.

He appears to avoid major cities in His travels. Landowners, government officials, judges, and other wealthy people lived in cities, with the countryside reserved for the poor. Maybe He preferred small towns and the countryside, or perhaps He found the peasants to be more willing to listen to His message.

A couple sources speak of what you’d expect to see walking down the streets of a town:

“Tradesmen would be instantly recognizable by the symbols they wore. Carpenters stuck wood chips behind their ears, tailors stuck needles in their tunics, and dyers wore colored rags. On the Sabbath, these symbols were left at home.” (Christianitytoday)

“Houses were all-purpose 1-2 room squares, with dirt floors, flat roofs, low and narrow doorways, and front wooden doors. Often people would sleep on flat roofs during hot nights. The houses were arranged around a central shared courtyard where neighbors performed daily chores (cooking, laundry, etc.) in each other’s company. Water was carried in from a public well and stored in a courtyard cistern. Lighting was provided by earthenware oil lamps. People slept on mats, and owned limited personal goods.” (JesusCentral)

Everyone became just people on the Sabbath. They ate two main meals a day with bread being the center point of both. Common places to meet up with others, beside in the courtyard, were the marketplace and the temple. During major feast days, they’d travel to Jerusalem if they could, where the population would swell from about 55,000 to 180,000. It was a bit crowded.

Children were children as always, and archeologists have found “whistles, rattles, toy animals on wheels, hoops, and spinning tops” with the occasional board game, such as a version of checkers. There were few portraits or images of living beings, as this was forbidden in Jewish culture (which is also the reason you won’t find a drawing of Jesus). The only exception being dolls for children.

It’s interesting, and sometimes helpful, to put context to Jesus’ message. With the details on the down-to-earth lifestyle of the Jews in His time, we can more clearly see Him walk the streets spreading love. As I find more information, I’ll share so we can fully paint the backdrop of Jesus.

Sources other than Bible:
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/jesus/socialclass.html
https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125394814
http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/issues/issue-59/life-times-of-jesus-of-nazareth-did-you-know.html
http://www.jesuscentral.com/ji/historical-jesus/jesus-firstcenturycontext.php

New Year: God’s Resolution

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“And the One seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.'” Revelation 21:5

A new year promises new beginnings, and urges us all to look to the future with hope and sometimes a little fear of the unknown. We make resolutions to help us create a better life. Did you know God has His own resolutions?

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying:

“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man,
and He will live with them.
They will be His people,
and God Himself will be with them as their God.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,
and there will be no more death
or mourning or crying or pain,
for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:3-4

“Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.” And He told me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give freely from the spring of the water of life. The one who is victorious will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son.” Revelation 21:5-7

Once upon a time, when I was a child, I took it upon myself to “attempt” to read the Bible all the way through. I half-way succeeded (literally only the Old Testament) and then skipped to Revelations. What a horrible idea! I read things like:

“And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.” Revelations 6:8

And –

“And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.” Revelations 6:12-14

Well then. So, basically Revelations used to be like a horror film to me, full of blood and gore and hopelessness.

I HAD MISSED GOD’S PROMISES AND HOPE. I only caught on to his anger and deep sadness over the darkness of the world.

So, later, armed with greater reading comprehension and knowledge of how to research and dissect literature, I faced the Bible once again. I started at the beginning, when the world held such hope, mourned the loss of innocence, and struggled alongside the prophets, laymen, families, and God as I made my way back through the Old Testament.

Malachi.

This is the last book of the Old Testament, written by the minor prophet… Malachi, of course.

“Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the LORD of hosts.” Malachi 3:1

“See, I will send my messenger…For he will be like a refiner’s fire… He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years.” Malachi 3:1-4

Malachi spoke of hope. Hope that the Israelites lived on for 400 years.

Then, I finally opened the New Testament.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:1-5

The darkness has not overcome it. After all the pain, turmoil, doubt, and silence that the Old Testament addressed, it also spoke of unrelenting faith, everlasting love for others and God for His people, and the pinprick of light that still existed far toward the end of the tunnel. Yet, after all this, that spot of light remained and only grew stronger in the world.

Through the books of the New Testament, I walked with Jesus and His disciples speaking of the love of God and His children and the hope that sinners had in Him. The darkness had not overcome the light, but the light would overcome the darkness. Though life was never easy or fair for Jesus or His followers, they grew from a handful to innumerable as the stars. I remember a resolution God had made back in the beginning.

“He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars–if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Genesis 15:5

Did you think God was speaking to Abraham of his future blood relatives back then? Abraham probably did too.

“And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.” Galatians 3:29

You are one of those stars He spoke of so long ago.

When God makes promises and resolutions, He not only follows through but brings them to fruition above our very expectations and dreams.

So, when I finally made it back to Revelations, I read it with different eyes, filled with new hope. There would be terrible things in store for the world. This much was still true. But, did you not realize that we, the beloved children of God, are not the world? We may have to suffer through much, but haven’t we already through history? One thing remained the same: God stands by our side and faces it alongside us.

“The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1

“For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:17-18

This new year, remember God has His own resolutions, and they involve you.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Happy New Year to all; your future is bright.

***

Other Bible quotes about God making all things new:

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

“Remember not the former things,
nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I am doing a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 45:18-19

“For behold, I create new heavens
and a new earth,
and the former things shall not be remembered
or come into mind.
But be glad and rejoice forever
in that which I create;
for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy,
and her people to be a gladness.” Isaiah 65:17-18