Life without a Cell Phone Camera
As I have been filtering what I am reading, hearing and living thru the Gospels picture of how Jesus treated people, I was reminded yesterday about "fear".An exceptional quality, subtly displayed through the gospels, is the accessibility of Jesus to: rich and poor; young and old; important or common; wise or foolish; sick or healthy; sinner or saint; friend or stranger. He was not intimidating! He did not inspire or incite fear in people - of all types and stripes. This is a big key in the 'New Covenant/Old Covenant puzzle. He even said "If you've seen me you've seen the Father." (John 14:9) That seems to be a very purposeful portrait...for people without a cell phone camera, and especially for us today.
The Old Testament seemed to emphasize "fearing the Lord" but Jesus deliberately deleted the word 'fear' when He quoted Deuteronomy 6:13 and 10:20 in Matthew 4:10. He replaced 'fear' with worship. He emphasized "peace" up to his very last words on earth. Fear and peace just don't mix. They are impossible to hold in the heart together.
The Gospel of Peace, God's "Good News", rejects fear as being viable for a Peaceful, Abundant Life. Are you comfortable with that picture of God? Romans 2:4 says, "It is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance."
What a fun study this has been! Join us on Saturday afternoons, 4:30, at the Young's house for fun, fellowship and discussions that affect how we live.
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