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Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.
(Psalm 119:105)
Mount
Baker
Beacon
Volume 02, Number 21
05/21/2023
Published
by
Mt. Baker
church of Christ
Location:
1860 Mt. Baker HWY
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 30821
Bellingham, WA 98228
(360) 752-2692
Sunday:
Bible Classes..........9:30 AM
Worship..10:30AM; 6:00PM
Wednesday:
Bible Classes.........7:00 PM
Web site:
Mt. Baker church
Editor......John Bass
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In this issue:
DO YOU NOT EVEN FEAR GOD?
David
Weaks
When
Jesus hung dying on the cross, He interacted with two thieves who were
crucified on either side of Him. One of the criminals “blasphemed Him,
saying ‘If you are the Christ, save Yourself and us,’” (Luke 23:39), but the
other criminal rebuked the first one and asked Him pointedly: “Do you not
even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed
justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done
nothing wrong.” (vs.41). The blasphemous criminal demonstrated by his
attitude and words that he did not properly fear God.
I wonder if we have proper fear for our
creator? Fear can refer to our reverence and awe for God (Hebrews 12:28),
it can refer to respect for His authority (Deuteronomy 6:2; Ecclesiastes
12:13), or it can refer to the fear of His wrath and judgment (Matthew
10:28). All of these ought to be present in the heart of a child of God.
We are all accountable to God and will face Him in judgment someday.
Do your fear God as you should?
Do you not fear falling short of the glory
of God (Romans 3:23)? Sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4). That perfect
standard of God is clearly revealed. Does it bother you when you miss the
mark?
Do you
not fear the darkness of sin that accompanies your sins. The word of God
illuminates the righteous path we should walk, and Christians are supposed
to radiate the light of truth (Psalms 119:105; Matthew 5:14-15). However,
the shadowy dimness that accompanies our descent into sin surely ought to
alert us to the danger we are in so that we can awake to righteousness (1
Corinthians 15:34). You and I should fear growing comfortable outside of
the light.
Do you
not fear the dangerous influence of unbelievers? Paul the apostle
warned about the danger of
those whose evil will corrupt your good habits (1 Corinthians 15:33). We
are to refrain from being “unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (2
Corinthians 6:14).When you get too comfortable with the world, you ought to
fear God.
Do you not fear God when you neglect your
Christian duties? You once read your Bible, but maybe not so much now
(Ephesians 3:3-4). You once prayed without ceasing, but now maybe only when
you need something from God (1 Thessalonians 5:17). You once attended all
services without fail, but now you attend sporadically at best (Hebrews
10:25). Do these things not stir up dread and fear within you at the
thought of impending judgment?
So, we finish with the question with which
we started: “Do you not even fear God?” Have you drifted that far?
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DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT
Richie Thetford
Worry or
anxiety is distracting care. It is natural, in a way, to be anxious but we
should not worry to the point of distracting us from important things. One
cannot live the fullest life if he always worries about all the little
things and often things that one cannot do anything about. Paul said: "Be
anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with
thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God" (Philippians 4:6).
This word worry simply means to draw in many directions. Worry draws our
mind away from our business and duties and puts it on things we probably
cannot do much about anyway. We are afraid of what is going to happen - but
it seldom does. Sometimes such worry leads to physical sickness. Do all we
can about a problem, and then put faith in God that all will be well. But we
can't put faith in God if we are not a Christian first.
I have always tried to live by this general
rule when it comes to the area of worry. If I can't directly change,
control, or alter the situation, then all I can do is pray to God concerning
the situation and then just leave it in God's hands. For example: If I were
to send my daughter on an airplane to see her grandparents in another state,
once that airplane took off I can no longer change, control, or alter that
airplane. I can only pray to God that she be safe and have a safe trip to
her destination. If I worry about the situation, all that I will accomplish
is to make myself physically sick. We need to learn and trust to put our
cares and anxieties in His hands and let Him who has power over all things
to direct the steps. When we do, then our life will be so much easier and we
will be able to fully concentrate on those things in which we can change.
Put our trust, faith and hope in God first, then all will work out to His
glory.
The Harm in Worry
Worry drains our energy. Have you noticed
how tired we are after we have been worrying about something in which we
have no control over to change? Mental work is hard work, and it tires us
the most possibly, when we are in deep pain of worry. So, one cannot live a
full, fruitful life with worry always in their mind. We are using up energy
which we need for more useful things. And besides a drain on our energy, it
is a waste of time. What can be done when our mind is occupied with fear of
that which might happen? While I am worrying, I should be using my mental
faculties to do something constructive. I should be doing my work; or doing
something for others. In fact, one of the best antidotes of worry is going
out and helping others - which gets our mind off ourselves. I read of a man
once who was so accustomed to worrying that he often worried because he had
forgotten what he was worrying about. Faith in God is the remedy for worry!
Faith Repels Worry
Worry is anxiety to the point of
distraction. We are usually afraid of what will happen. But trust in God as
to the future is the great antidote of worry. With trust in God that He will
do what is right, why should we worry? This is not to say nothing unpleasant
will happen. But it does say we have a faith in the providence of God that
whatever happens, God holds the future in His hands. Again, Paul said: "Be
anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with
thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God" (Philippians 4:6). It
is said that we believe our doubts and doubt our beliefs. When Peter saw the
great waves around him while walking on the water, he began to sink. Jesus
said: "O thou of little faith." If God feeds the birds and beautifies the
flowers, will He not care for His greater creation? I encourage each one of
us to read Matthew chapters 5 through 7 and gain a better, deeper
understanding of the hand of God.
Trust in the Lord
Worry decays the mind, makes one miserable,
wastes time and energy and makes our friends unhappy. Why worry? Faith in
God is the answer to our worry problem. Thousands pop pills, others drink
liquor, and many go to the psychiatrists. But the best tranquilizer is faith
in God, obedience to the gospel, and living the Christian life. Yes, trust
in the Lord is the answer. So we want to be happy? Here's how. Trust in the
Lord, become a Christian by being baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:27), and
then live a faithful life in His service (Revelation 2:10). Then, come what
may, we know we have a home in heaven after life. But without that faith, or
trust in the Lord, what future do we have to look forward to? Yes, the Lord
knew what it would take to make men happy here and hereafter. Therefore,
don't worry about it.
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Created by Chuck Sibbing, last updated.
05/22/2023
The Mount Baker Beacon is a
weekly publication of the Mt. Baker church of Christ, Bellingham, WA.
Send all questions, comments to the editor, John Bass at (360) 325-5149
or johnbass2468@gmail.com |