Tag Archives: Fear

Trying to Stay on the Fence

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They loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. John 12:43 ESV1

Read John 12:42-50

Sitting on the fence is a common English idiom to describe the actions or thoughts of one who is indecisive or refuses to choose between two opposing sides. This inability to decide is usually due to a lack of courage. When one weighs the options and the potential losses involved in making a firm commitment to either side, sitting on the fence often seems like the safest place. However, assumptions often do not agree with reality.

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To Fear or Not to Fear

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“Do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear Him who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into Hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!” Luke 12:4-5 ESV1

Read Luke 12:13-21

We all fear something. That which we fear has the power to influence our characters and determine our destinies. Jesus emphasized this truth in the context of the next parable we will examine.

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The Thing About Judging

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“Judge not, that you be not judged.  For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure, you use it will be measured to you.”  Matthew 7:1-2 ESV1

Read Matthew 7:1-14 & Luke 6:37-38

To the rational mind, racism, sexism, and all forms of prejudice are senseless. After all, who of us chose the color of his/her skin? Which of us decided before our birth which gender we would be? Who among us had any input on who his/her ancestors were? Did any of us get to vote for the color of his/her eyes, or height, or body structure? Who got to pick his/her personality, strengths, or weakness? Though it is not rational, most of us harbor some kind of prejudice. Why is that?

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Am I a Hypocrite?

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Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in Heaven. Matthew 6:1 ESV1

Read Matthew 6:1-6 & 16-18

When we begin reading Matthew 6 our ears are perked up and our senses are heightened. Matthew 6 is the continuation of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount which began in Matthew 5. Because of His teaching on some serious subjects presented in a surprising way, this sermon convicts the hearts of all who seriously read it. We expect to continue to be convicted in Matthew 6, but when Jesus teaches here on giving and praying, it is easy to let down our guards and assume He is speaking to someone else. After all, who of us has actually sounded a trumpet to draw attention to our giving (see Matthew 6:2) or has stood on a street corner loudly praying to get others to notice us (see Matthew 6:5)?

Therefore, we often miss what Jesus is teaching us here, specifically and personally, about hypocrisy. At this point, instead of looking around at the other guy, I believe Jesus is calling us each to honestly and prayerfully ask ourselves the question, “Am I a hypocrite?” If I were to ask myself that question, I must truthfully say, “Yes, I think I am. At least, I have that tendency.”

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