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
| 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? Top
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. Top
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 |
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