“Fear not,” said he, for mighty dread…”
Jesus says, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28)
Here Jesus is speaking directly to his 12 disciples whom he is sending out to preach the good news to Jews and Gentiles, to the rich and poor, to the downcast, the oppressed, the disinherited, and the hopeless. He is essentially instructing them not to be afraid of the opposition’s earthly persecution or death, because our ultimate allegiance lies with God who holds power over life and death. Do not be afraid!
Fear is one of the persistent hounds of hell that dogs the footsteps of the poor, the dispossessed, and the disinherited. There is nothing new or recent about fear. It is, doubtless, as old as man's life on earth. Fears are of many kinds. Fear of objects, fear of people, fear of the future, fear of nature, fear of the fear of old age, fear of disease, and fear of life itself. Fear also involves aspects of experiences and detailed states of mind. Our homes, institutions, prisons, and churches are crowded with people who are hounded by day and by night because of some fear that looks ready to spring into action as soon as one is alone, as soon as the lights go out, or as soon as one's social defenses are temporarily removed. Howard Thurman wrote about this in his book “Jesus and the Disinherited.”
The ever-present fear that overwhelms the poor, the economically and socially insecure, is a fear of still a different breed. It is a weather system closing in, like the legendary fog in San Francisco; it is nowhere in particular, yet everywhere. It is a condition we bear alone, yet communally, borne out of the ever-present conflicts of everyday life challenges. It has its roots deep in the heart of the relations between the weak and the strong, between the humble and the powerful, between those who would be rulers and the majority subjects on whom terror would reign. Thurman explains that the underprivileged in any society are the victims of a perpetual war of nerves. The logic of the state of affairs is physical violence, but it need not fulfill itself to work its perfect havoc on the souls of the poor.
Fear then becomes the safety device with which the oppressed surround themselves to give some measure of protection from complete nervous collapse. Spiritual and psychological warfare?
Howard Thurman was an American philosopher, theologian, educator, and civil rights leader. As a theologian of highest regard, his influence on civil rights and social justice movements espoused radical nonviolence, shaping a generation of activists including Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. One opinion writer stated, "Howard Thurman was a spiritual genius who transformed persons who transformed history.” I suggest that we read, at some point, his life’s stories to help us understand how his faith in God developed, and why his love of Jesus Christ made him an ambassador par excellence for the disinherited. Howard Thuman may not have been effective in his service to the world had he not embraced these promises:
Isaiah 41:10.
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God I will strengthen you I will help you I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Psalm 23:4
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.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And do not lean on your understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your path straight.
John 14:27
Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid,
Job 23:10
But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
It is one thing to testify after you have passed through the fire; but Job is still in the furnace. The heat on his boils shoot flashes of hot pain through his body, fever parches his lips, he scrapes his oozing boils with broken pieces of pottery, his head throbs with pain, and his friends falsely accuse him; but he looks beyond his present trial and shouts with vibrant reassuring faith: “I shall come through as gold.”
Psalm 66:10-12
David saw the children of God as silver in the refiner's fire. They'll have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us back to a place of abundance.
Malachi 3:5
“So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppressed the widows and the fatherless, and deprived the foreigners among you of justice, but do not fear me,” says the Lord Almighty. Malachi links both metals in explaining divine chastening, “and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver and purge them as gold and silver.” Why, that they might offer unto the Lord an offering of righteousness. The divine method is for the divine motive to purge and purify the Divine objective, which holds that in God life has meaning and purpose, and there are five lessons we should, and may learn from the refining and purging process. (i) We know that God cares. (ii) Never let Satan inject doubt into your mind regarding God's love for you, he would take advantage of your present trial and grief to whisper in your ear that God doesn't care, but God does. (iii) You are so precious in His sight, and nothing but the terms gold and silver can describe his concern, as gold and silver are precious to the refiner. How much more precious must we be to God? (iv) He paid the price far more than silver and gold for our redemption. It cost the blood of his only begotten son. (v) By comparison, He refers to silver and gold as corruptible. God gave all he had, the atoning blood of His precious Son, to purchase our Redemption.
Be careful for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom!!!
Amen.
Written by Gregory Harewood
Here Jesus is speaking directly to his 12 disciples whom he is sending out to preach the good news to Jews and Gentiles, to the rich and poor, to the downcast, the oppressed, the disinherited, and the hopeless. He is essentially instructing them not to be afraid of the opposition’s earthly persecution or death, because our ultimate allegiance lies with God who holds power over life and death. Do not be afraid!
Fear is one of the persistent hounds of hell that dogs the footsteps of the poor, the dispossessed, and the disinherited. There is nothing new or recent about fear. It is, doubtless, as old as man's life on earth. Fears are of many kinds. Fear of objects, fear of people, fear of the future, fear of nature, fear of the fear of old age, fear of disease, and fear of life itself. Fear also involves aspects of experiences and detailed states of mind. Our homes, institutions, prisons, and churches are crowded with people who are hounded by day and by night because of some fear that looks ready to spring into action as soon as one is alone, as soon as the lights go out, or as soon as one's social defenses are temporarily removed. Howard Thurman wrote about this in his book “Jesus and the Disinherited.”
The ever-present fear that overwhelms the poor, the economically and socially insecure, is a fear of still a different breed. It is a weather system closing in, like the legendary fog in San Francisco; it is nowhere in particular, yet everywhere. It is a condition we bear alone, yet communally, borne out of the ever-present conflicts of everyday life challenges. It has its roots deep in the heart of the relations between the weak and the strong, between the humble and the powerful, between those who would be rulers and the majority subjects on whom terror would reign. Thurman explains that the underprivileged in any society are the victims of a perpetual war of nerves. The logic of the state of affairs is physical violence, but it need not fulfill itself to work its perfect havoc on the souls of the poor.
Fear then becomes the safety device with which the oppressed surround themselves to give some measure of protection from complete nervous collapse. Spiritual and psychological warfare?
Howard Thurman was an American philosopher, theologian, educator, and civil rights leader. As a theologian of highest regard, his influence on civil rights and social justice movements espoused radical nonviolence, shaping a generation of activists including Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. One opinion writer stated, "Howard Thurman was a spiritual genius who transformed persons who transformed history.” I suggest that we read, at some point, his life’s stories to help us understand how his faith in God developed, and why his love of Jesus Christ made him an ambassador par excellence for the disinherited. Howard Thuman may not have been effective in his service to the world had he not embraced these promises:
Isaiah 41:10.
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God I will strengthen you I will help you I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Psalm 23:4
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.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And do not lean on your understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your path straight.
John 14:27
Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid,
Job 23:10
But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
It is one thing to testify after you have passed through the fire; but Job is still in the furnace. The heat on his boils shoot flashes of hot pain through his body, fever parches his lips, he scrapes his oozing boils with broken pieces of pottery, his head throbs with pain, and his friends falsely accuse him; but he looks beyond his present trial and shouts with vibrant reassuring faith: “I shall come through as gold.”
Psalm 66:10-12
David saw the children of God as silver in the refiner's fire. They'll have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us back to a place of abundance.
Malachi 3:5
“So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppressed the widows and the fatherless, and deprived the foreigners among you of justice, but do not fear me,” says the Lord Almighty. Malachi links both metals in explaining divine chastening, “and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver and purge them as gold and silver.” Why, that they might offer unto the Lord an offering of righteousness. The divine method is for the divine motive to purge and purify the Divine objective, which holds that in God life has meaning and purpose, and there are five lessons we should, and may learn from the refining and purging process. (i) We know that God cares. (ii) Never let Satan inject doubt into your mind regarding God's love for you, he would take advantage of your present trial and grief to whisper in your ear that God doesn't care, but God does. (iii) You are so precious in His sight, and nothing but the terms gold and silver can describe his concern, as gold and silver are precious to the refiner. How much more precious must we be to God? (iv) He paid the price far more than silver and gold for our redemption. It cost the blood of his only begotten son. (v) By comparison, He refers to silver and gold as corruptible. God gave all he had, the atoning blood of His precious Son, to purchase our Redemption.
Be careful for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom!!!
Amen.
Written by Gregory Harewood
Posted in Mid-Week Devotional
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