5.17- Fear is a terrible thing.

5.17-

Fear is a terrible thing.  The opposite of fear is faith.  I was taught by my family to not be afraid.  Be a strong man and step into the things that you need to do.   This was good advice.  I have been taught by Jesus to not be afraid.  Walk by faith in Him.

Tonight, I felt I failed both of those sources of teaching, my family and my friend, Jesus.

It was about dusk.  I had driven quite ways from my house to a fast food joint for dinner.  Sitting on a curb was a young man, 20, red shirt, medium build and my first thought was what is he doing there?  Is he waiting on someone to get off work and give him a ride somewhere?  What is he doing?  I had all my windows open and my sunroof open.  I close the roof.  I raised the windows.  I locked the doors.  He was moving to a car right behind me and speaking to someone in that car.  I kept my eye on him in my rearview mirror.  Would he move to my car?  What would I say?

I felt more fear than faith.  I sat there in my car as a follower of Jesus thinking what would Jesus do?   I envisioned Him rolling all the windows down and asking the young man if there is something he needed.  Perhaps a ride.  Perhaps some money for dinner.  Perhaps some food.  From my point of view that is how Jesus would have reacted and responded to this situation.

I claim to be follower of Jesus, yet sometimes I’m not.  I am fearful and selfish and following no one but myself.

So what connection to I have with Jesus.  I have need of grace, mercy and peace and power to be more courageous tomorrow.

I pulled through the drive through.  The man walked off to a different curb.  I drove home thinking about my own connection with Jesus, my friend.

Before the evening was over I had meditated on what a need I have a connection with Jesus.  I need his forgiveness for walking by fear instead of faith.  For being selfish instead of generous.

Luke 18.

⁹ And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: ¹⁰ “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ ¹³ But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be ^[f]merciful to me, the sinner!’ ¹⁴ I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
¹⁵ And they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them. ¹⁶ But Jesus called for them, saying, “Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁷ Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”

Larry Wishard

5.10.20