What Are We Afraid Of?

"It's too bad they have to call it that," 6 year old Lily said. "People will be scared of
God and they won't like Him."

My  granddaughter and I had just read how the King of Egypt ordered two midwives
to kill the Hebrew baby boys at birth. To disobey Pharaoh's commands was a life
threatening choice. Still, the midwives continued to help deliver Hebrew babies and
let all of them live. Why?

Because the midwives feared God (Exodus 1:17).    

Their fear of God took away their fear of Pharaoh. Lily and I were impressed with
Shiphah and Puah's willingness to go against the king's orders. From a young age we
learn about the importance of courage in this life. Sooner or later we all need to take a
stand for what's right. Interesting how God fear becomes courage when we act upon it.

But as Lily pointed out, the "fear of the Lord" doesn't draw a crowd. Our first reaction 

to it compares more to our response to okra with mustard greens than say, apple crisp 

alamode. Nothing against okra or mustard greens. I'm sure they're nutritious and even 

tasty in their own way. Even so, most families don't eat them every week or even once 

a month.  

So is the fear of the Lord among many Christians. This fear comes across like the cod
liver oil of Christianity. something most likely good for us, but when it comes to learning
more about it, ahh... maybe another time. But that's only because we don't know what
we're missing.

Like Moses and the burning bush, the Lord drew me to the fear of Him 20 years ago,
and I've been fascinated by it ever since. Some of the amazing things I've learned fill
the pages of my new book, "The Neglected Journey." (Amazon Kindle) A reader
friendly book with relatable, family examples and gentle humor. Yet even though I've
been studying and writing about this fear for years, it feels like I've just scratched the
surface. Proof that when it comes to the things of God, we're all lifelong students at best.      

       

What Are We Waiting For?

Perhaps we aren't waiting for someone to say, "Go pursue your dream." (As I mentioned in the last post.) Still, the years keep passing and we don't get much closer to living our dreams. For many of us, it will take more than January to jar us from the procrastination and discouragement that fits us like a well-worn jacket. So what is stopping us? 

Like my sister, some people regret not finishing their degree. She would like to turn back time and take those higher education opportunities serious. But for her and others it may seem like it's too late for an educational makeover. 

Speaking of too late, others of us are closer to the finish line than the starting line as it relates to the work of our hands. How can we consider a new pursuit as we near the age when most people retire? If we'd just made better choices when we were young and strong.  

In the Christmas classic, It's a Wonderful Life, George Bailey points out the third thing we often let stop us. In a conversation, George asked Clarence the angel how he could help him get him wings.

       "By letting me help you," Clarence said. 
       "You don't have eight thousand bucks on you?" George asked.
       "Oh no, no, we don't use money in heaven."
       "Well, it comes in pretty handy down here, bub." George said.

We can't disagree with George, money does come in handy. But God reveals there's something we need more than education, physical strength, and cash. 

"Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom,

let not the mighty man boast in his might,

let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him 

who boasts boast of this, that he understands 

and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises 

lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; 

for I delight in these things," declares the Lord. 

(Jeremiah 9:23, 24)  

• Do we let the lack of a university degree stop us when the Creator of the Universe promises to help us? (Psalm 32:8)
• Do we think having lived half a century or more disqualifies us from pursuing the new things nestled in old dreams? Yet God promises to renew our youth like the eagle's (Psalm 103:5).
• Does a low income stir inferior feelings that hold us back when all the silver and gold belongs to our heavenly Father? (Haggai 2:8)  

Taking God's lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness personally is the catalyst that breaks us free. Allowing Him to exercise these blessings on our behalf, changes everything, including our outlook. And it all unfolds as we get to know Him a little more each day. He loves it when we do new things - the good works he prepared for us before we ever took our first step.