What are you afraid of? Loosing your job, the economy, health problems, trouble with the kids, problems at school, maybe even that big test you are facing? Fear forms in us from the many problems in our lives. Fear is the one thing most people work hardest at over coming and yet it seems to hang on stronger and longer than almost anything else in the lives of many.
There is a devotional song that says, "Jesus is the answer for the world today". Is he really the answer? Can your fears be overcome by just having more "Jesus" in your life?
My sister, Janet called the other day and told me about her little grand daughter Megan. Megan is about 2 and a half years old. She carries a little pocket New Testament with her much of the time. The other day she told her mom, "I want to read the bible to you." Her mom said, "OK" and sat down while Megan opened her bible. She looked at it and said, 'Don't be afraid," "The end."
WOW! Can you think of a better way to sum up the message of the word of God? My sister said that Megan sleeps with her bible every night and when asked why, she replied, "Because it makes me feel safe."
Now the paper, plastic and leather of your bible is not magic. It is not something that can protect you from physical harm, but it can protect you from spiritual death. Physical death is a separation of your spirit from your body while spiritual death is a separation of your spirit from God. John calls this "the second death" in Revelation 21:8, a separation from God at the final judgment.
It is what the bible contains that is really important though, isn't it? The apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 2:14-16, "Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ's return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless." (NLT)
Paul also wrote in Romans 8:13-15, " For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." (NIV)
We did not receive "a spirit that makes you a slave to fear." That verse indicates that there is suppose to be a change that takes place in our lives when we come into a relationship with God. A change that allows us to understand that our life, real life is not here on this earth, but what takes place after we leave for life eternal with God. Jesus said it this way in Matthew 10:28, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul." (KJV) The apostle John give us this testimony regarding life in 1 John 5:11, "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son."
I'll close with one more scripture. Jesus asked in Matthew 6:27, "Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?" (NLT). What is your answer? Can you?
Russ Lawson
There is a devotional song that says, "Jesus is the answer for the world today". Is he really the answer? Can your fears be overcome by just having more "Jesus" in your life?
My sister, Janet called the other day and told me about her little grand daughter Megan. Megan is about 2 and a half years old. She carries a little pocket New Testament with her much of the time. The other day she told her mom, "I want to read the bible to you." Her mom said, "OK" and sat down while Megan opened her bible. She looked at it and said, 'Don't be afraid," "The end."
WOW! Can you think of a better way to sum up the message of the word of God? My sister said that Megan sleeps with her bible every night and when asked why, she replied, "Because it makes me feel safe."
Now the paper, plastic and leather of your bible is not magic. It is not something that can protect you from physical harm, but it can protect you from spiritual death. Physical death is a separation of your spirit from your body while spiritual death is a separation of your spirit from God. John calls this "the second death" in Revelation 21:8, a separation from God at the final judgment.
It is what the bible contains that is really important though, isn't it? The apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 2:14-16, "Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ's return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless." (NLT)
Paul also wrote in Romans 8:13-15, " For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." (NIV)
We did not receive "a spirit that makes you a slave to fear." That verse indicates that there is suppose to be a change that takes place in our lives when we come into a relationship with God. A change that allows us to understand that our life, real life is not here on this earth, but what takes place after we leave for life eternal with God. Jesus said it this way in Matthew 10:28, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul." (KJV) The apostle John give us this testimony regarding life in 1 John 5:11, "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son."
I'll close with one more scripture. Jesus asked in Matthew 6:27, "Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?" (NLT). What is your answer? Can you?
Russ Lawson
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