Fear Factor

FEAR FACTOR

When our fear speaks it’s often in the form of a question rooted

in our deepest doubt...

or is it?

“Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” Mark 4:38
So here’s the back-story-

Jesus had just finished teaching on the shores of the Galilee. He called His disciples together and shared the plan-We’re going over to the other side of the lake. So during the course of the trip, Jesus fell asleep. As was the natural tendency of this lake, a sudden storm blew down from the surrounding mountains and this trip went from commonplace to chaos in a matter of minutes. The disciples were overcome by terror as the winds and rain caused the sea to rage. They responded to both the fear of the storm (the known) and their uncertain outcome (the unknown) with waves of doubt more fierce than those produced by the squall. Their fear revealed the dire condition of their hearts as they were swayed more by their circumstances than the words Jesus had just spoken: “Let US go over to the other side.”

The Master's use of the inclusive pronoun, “us”, indicated that ALL of them would be indeed make it to the other side. And yet, His Word was shouted down by the commotion of the wind causing their faith to be shown for what it was; little, untested and about to fail.

Do your fears, both known and unknown shout down the Word of Promise we have in Jesus Christ? Do your circumstances cause your doubtful hearts to shout the same question to our Master, “Lord, don’t you care?”

Beloved, was it doubt that caused the disciples to apparently abandon all hope? Or did those men in the boat have faith? I believe the answer is that they had faith but Jesus was stretching it-Stretching it to the point of absolute dependency upon the One who could calm the storm.

The fact that Jesus was sleeping during the storm is not as important as the action the disciples took by desperately calling out to Him: This Jesus, who was at rest was awakened and brought His rest into their reality-He will do likewise in yours. Our Lord rebukes the tempest the same as He rebukes the fever (Luke 4:39) because He is Lord over both the great and small things of life.

So in the midst of your next storm, as you desperately call out to Jesus wondering where He is, remember His words to you:

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27…



Be blessed in your stretching!

Keeping my eyes on Jesus-day two

1 Peter 4:12-16

Suffering as a Christian

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory[a] and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

Keeping my eyes on Jesus-Day One

Keeping my eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of my faith.

Lord, I desire to know You in the power of Your resurrection, but it seems that first, I must know You:  Know You in: Your sufferings, Your divinity, Your humanity, Your compassion, Your forgiveness, Your humility, Your love, Your boldness, You all in all.

Let my time be spent wisely as I have come with the intent to Know You More.  I will choose to keep my eyes on You.

My Daily Reading:

1 Peter 3:8–18 (New International Version)

Suffering for Doing Good

8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another,
be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult.
On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called
so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For,

“Whoever would love life

and see good days

must keep their tongue from evil

and their lips from deceitful speech.

11 They must turn from evil and do good;

they must seek peace and pursue it.

12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous

and his ears are attentive to their prayer,

but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”[a]

13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer
for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats[b]; do not be frightened.”[c]
15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to
everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with
gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak
maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous,
to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.

Footnotes:
1 Peter 3:12 Psalm 34:12-16
1 Peter 3:14 Or fear what they fear
1 Peter 3:14 Isaiah 8:12